GILLINGHAM goalkeepers Vince Bartram and Jason Brown are running neck and neck in the race for selection to Saturday’s side against Wimbledon.

Bartram, who lost his place to Brown in March after 103 consecutive appearances, is desperate to re-establish himself as the club’s first choice.

The feeling within the club a week ago was that he had done enough in pre-season to convince player-manager Andy Hessenthaler that he should start. Since then Brown has re-emerged and could yet retain the position.

An insider said: “It's too close to call. It’s 50-50 and nobody knows what the gaffer will decide.”

Hessenthaler said after Saturday’s 3-0 win at Gravesend that he expected to name the side today so one of the goalkeepers will be left deeply disappointed.

The outcome of the contest for the right-back position between Nyron Nosworthy and Mark Patterson should also be known today with Nosworthy favourite to start against the Dons.

The best that newcomer Tommy Johnson can hope for against the Dons is a place on the bench. He suffered another setback with a thigh injury after making his debut at Gravesend.

Defender Barry Ashby has recovered from the groin strain that kept him out of Saturday’s and Monday’s friendlies and will partner Chris Hope in central defence.