Gillingham v MK Dons

MARK STIMSON will be without his first-choice midfield as Gillingham head into tonight's Johnstone’s Paint Trophy southern area semi-final.

The Gills manager faces a major selection headache as he looks to see off League 2 leaders MK Dons and take another step closer to a Wembley final.

Stuart Thurgood is serving the last of a three-game ban for his sending-off against Southend while Andrew Crofts, Mark Bentley and Adam Miller are all suspended for one game after accumulating five bookings this season.

Despite the crisis, Stimson is remaining pragmatic about the situation.

“It’s an opportunity for someone else to come in and play,” he said. “It’s a semi-final of the competition and so whatever team we put out we’ll be trying to get through. It’s going to be hard because MK Dons are not used to losing.”

Stimson could turn to long-forgotten midfielder Steve Lomas while Craig Stone is likely to be recalled and Nicky Southall could move forward from defence.

The winners of tonight’s match, which will be decided by a penalty shoot-out if the tie ends in a draw, will play a two-legged area final before meeting the winners of the northern section at Wembley stadium on March 30.

“We want to be at the final because I really like the new stadium,” said Stimson.

“We’ve got to make sure the league is the main priority and we have to put everything in place so we really do enjoy the last few months of the season.”

Stimson may rest goalkeeper Simon Royce, who picked up a hip injury at Leyton Orient, and turn to Derek Stillie.

“If he isn’t 100 per cent right I probably won’t risk him,” said Stimson. “Stillie played against Dagenham in the last round and he’s gagging for a chance to show me what he can do.”

Stimson could bring defender Ian Cox back from injury and will wait on the fitness of wide-man Dennis Oli.