GILLINGHAM boss Andy Hessenthaler is confident his side can end Coventry’s excellent run at Priestfield in tomorrow’s vital clash and preserve the club’s Division 1 status.

Gills have not beaten the Sky Blues at Priestfield since the two teams met in Division 4 in 1958 but they did draw 2-2 in the League Cup in 1996.

And the player-manager is promising to play an attacking line-up to try and guarantee the side’s survival, despite the absence of influential skipper Paul Smith with a knee injury picked up against Ipswich.

He said: “Alan Pouton came in and did well against Wimbledon so he’ll keep his place.

"If John Hills recovers from the thigh injury he picked up in training then we'll probably bring out the young lad Jarvis and play two up front with three centre halves, Hills pushing up as a wing back with Nicky Southall on the other side.

"This gives us more attacking options at home, which we did against Walsall and Ipswich and it works well because we have to take the game to them."

A point could be enough this weekend to guarantee their Division 1 survival if Walsall lose away at Crystal Palace.

Hessenthaler added: "Walsall have it tough. They're up against the in-form side in the division, Palace are on a fantastic run and are aiming for the play-offs.

"But football is a funny game, everyone is expecting Palace to win, however it does not always work out that way.”

Hessenthaler admits that like last weekend's game at Wimbledon he won't have to do much talking before kick off because the squad knows the importance of picking up points.

Team spirit is strong in the camp with Mamady Sidibe choosing club over country this week turning down the chance to join his Mali team-mates who lost 1-0 in Tunisia on Wednesday.

Hessenthaler said: "Hopefully we can wrap it up on Saturday, especially if other results are kind to us. Then we can go to Stoke in a more relaxed mood, knowing we're staying in this division.”

Hessenthaler says he hopes Coventry will come to Priestfield in an attacking frame of mind, as he told KM-fm...