SATURDAY’S game against Brighton & Hove Albion will be Gillingham’s 100th Nationwide Division 1 game and Chris Hope’s 100th consecutive League appearance.

The 28-year-old defender will become only the 10th Gills player to reach the milestone and the double landmark will give the team added incentive to give their all.

As will coming up against former Gills players Guy Butters, Paul Watson and Richard Carpenter who now ply their trade down on the south coast.

Hope also believes Tuesday’s victory in the tricky Worthington Cup tie at Torquay has given Gillingham a timely confidence boost.

After a string of poor results, the 1-0 win was crucial for the team’s spirits, putting them in a positive frame of mind for the Brighton game.

Hope said: “It was Torquay's cup final. We are delighted to have won because had we lost confidence would have been low.”

Albion boss Martin Hinshelwood last night hailed birthday boy Shaun Wilkinson and strike partner Daniel Marney as his Worthington Cup wonder kids.

Wilkinson, 21, scored his first senior goal as Brighton edged past Exeter 2-1 at home after extra-time.

Wilkinson and 20-year-old Marney were thrown in the deep end in the absence of the injured Bobby Zamora and Paul Kitson and the unavailable Graham Barrett.

* KEN Steggles, Gillingham’s senior physio, is back at the club for the first time since suffering a mild heart attack during pre-season.

Steggles is still recuperating but is allowed to work three mornings a week and his return to Priestfield coincides with the club’s biggest injury list for years.