Andy Hessenthaler has given his players licence to up the risk-factor as they continue their pursuit of an automatic promotion place in League 2.

The Gillingham manager has enough confidence in his defence to let the rest of the team off the leash for the season run-in and he is hoping for maximum points against Morecambe at Priestfield on Saturday.

Hessenthaler (pictured) might have to take a few risks over the next few games but if you are going to achieve something, you have to do that.

"We will always create chances and we just need to go for it.

"We can do that with Kevin Maher in the team, as he is defensive minded in midfield and we have to get our full-backs joining in and have a right go at it, especially as we are on our own patch.

"I am confident about our defence. We have had to change it a lot over the course of this season and we have the best home defensive record in the division.

"At home we are good defensively, Matt Lawrence has been different class, Garry Richards has done well and Josh Gowling came back in at the weekend and was great. Defensively I am more than happy."

The Gills have five games left and sit seventh in League 2, five points behind third-placed Wycombe, who presently occupy the final automatic promotion place.

Midfielder Curtis Weston is an injury doubt because of a knock he picked up last Saturday.

However, striker Stefan Payne is expected to shake off a knock picked up in Tuesday’s friendly against Canterbury.

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