GILLINGHAM manager Andy Hessenthaler rallied his players with a call to stand up and be counted as they attempt to avoid an unthinkable third straight defeat at Preston on Saturday.

Hessenthaler, who has steadfastly refused to enter into speculation about the club's potential as play-off candidates, instead fired a warning shot that further repeats of performances in the defeats against Sheffield United and Crystal Palace risked plunging the club into a downward spiral.

"The lads need to stand up and be counted," he insisted. "We need to put these two bad results behind us and go on another unbeaten run because we don't want to be drawn back into the relegation battle."

The manager and his players will be boosted by the fact that Gillingham have not lost at Deepdale since November, 1996 and in recent years have developed a knack of producing some of their most solid performances on the ground.

Hessenthaler has recalled himself to the bench and could hand transfer-listed Mark Patterson and Guy Ipoua recalls to the starting line-up after they came on as substitutes against Palace. Patterson looks the likely replacement for the injured David Perpetuini after replacing him on Wednesday while Ipoua stands by to deputise for Iffy Onuora up front.