SKIPPER Paul Smith says the Gills won't just be looking to avoid defeat when they play hosts to Division 1 pacesetters Portsmouth on Saturday.

After a great start to the campaign in which they topped the table with maximum points from three matches, Gillingham have struggled in their last few games and were comfortably beaten 2-0 at Leicester last weekend.

Smith said: “After three wins out of three we were flying but this is the First Division and it's going to be tough and we know that.

“Portsmouth are top of the table but we're not bad at home and are unbeaten there this season.

“They've got some decent players so it's going to be a hard game but we'll be looking to bounce back from the Leicester game and will be aiming for three points.”

Gillingham look set to be without a number of first choice players through injury, including strikers Mamady Sidibe and Rod Wallace, while Tommy Johnson and Guy Ipoua are doubtful.

Nyron Nosworthy, Barry Ashby and youngster Leon Johnson could also be unavailable with ankle, groin and calf injuries respectively, while goalkeeper Jason Brown is away on international duty with the Welsh Under-21s.

However, Smith insists, whoever takes the field against Pompey shouldn't be overawed with playing former Premiership stars Paul Merson and Gianluca Festa.

He said: “You can't go out and worry that you're up against the likes of Merson because in this division you are doing that week-in, week-out.

“Portsmouth have spent big money but we beat them at home last year when they had former World Cup player Robert Prosinecki so we shouldn't be in awe of them. We'll just go out there and do the job.”