FOLLOWING a pitch inspection this morning, Gillingham's FA Cup tie against Sheffield Wednesday at Priestfield tonight is due to go ahead.

Despite overnight snow and a wind chill forecast of minus seven tonight, referee Paul Taylor declared the club's problem pitch playable at about 10.15am.

Mr Taylor told the club's website that he had taken the decision after hearing the weather forecast for today with temperatures predicted to be above freezing this afternoon.

His only concern was a possible frost tonight but hoped it would not set in until after the game was over. The Sheffield Wednesday team delayed their departure until 9.30am. Awaiting tonight's winners are Premier League Leeds United on January 25.

Player-manager Andy Hessenthaler dismissed all talk of playing Leeds and tressed: "It's important that we focus of getting the right result against Sheffield Wednesday before we can think of playing in the next round.

"But we're in the hat for the next round and knowing who we'll get if we win will give us a big incentive."

Gillingham centre-back Barry Ashby has recovered from a sore throat and is available tonight. Striker Mamady Sidibe could be involved against Wednesday after recovering from a hamstring strain that has kept him out of contention since early December.