GILLINGHAM boss Mark Stimson will be paying special attention to the quality of the pitch at Priestfield ahead of Saturday’s crucial match.

The Gills have travelled to Brighton and Doncaster in the past few days and Stimson wants his pitch looking in similar condition so his side can get the ball down and pass it around.

“We’re going to ask the groundsman to get the pitch as short as possible and to soak it,” said Stimson.

“That’s how the pitches were at Doncaster and Brighton and I’m sure he’ll do his best for us because we want to zip the ball around.

“We just have to be careful because Crewe will play football and they’ve been in this situation before. Some of the players and the management staff will know how to deal with it.

“We’re going to think of ourselves, go for it and hopefully get a couple of strikers off the mark scoring a few goals. Some of the delivery going into the box was good. Pitches can help.

“Our pitch is good. If you’re a decent passing team like we are then it will help you and we’re going to try and get the pitch as best we can, so that there will be no excuses, and we’ll roll our sleeves up and have a go.”