GILLINGHAM manager Andy Hessenthaler has long insisted that there are no easy games in Nationwide League Division 1 and he accepts some are more important than others.

Few more so than Saturday’s visit of Nottingham Forest, the outcome of which will go a long way to determining who sinks and who swims in the relegation battle.

Pressure eased with Wednesday night’s results as Derby’s goalless draw with Crewe at Pride Park kept them two points behind 21st placed Gillingham.

Walsall’s home defeat by Sunderland on the same night leaves them on 37 points, the same as Gillingham, although Hessenthaler’s men have two games in hand on both the Saddlers and Derby.

An unthinkable loss against Forest would increase the number of home defeats to nine -four short of the record 13 set during the 1988-89 relegation season.

Hessenthaler said: “We've got 11 senior players missing from a squad of 25 which is a huge loss. It’s difficult but we’ve got to come through it.

“If we stay strong and keep producing the kind of performances we have over the last two or three games, and have a little bit of luck, then we'll come through this. It’s important that everyone stays positive.”

Striker Rod Wallace, whose father died suddenly this week, is likely to remain out of contention but Forest’s Marlon King will face his former club.

Although King has scored only twice since leaving Gillingham, he will be a part of a resurgent Forest side, unbeaten in five games since Joe Kinnear succeeded Paul Hart early last month.

Gillingham go into the game without a goal in 434 minutes and striker Mamady Sidibe, who has scored just nine goals in 65 games, has asked for time to develop a rapport with Patrick Agyemang following his arrival from Wimbledon in January.

Nicky Southall, who missed twice from the penalty spot a week ago against Crystal Palace, makes his 200th League appearance for Gillingham. But Hessenthaler has ruled him out of taking any future penalties.