Italy beckons for Gillingham as they head abroad as part of their preparations for their League 2 season.

Neil Harris’ men are heading to Como on Sunday for the start of a pre-season training camp and will play the Serie B outfit on Wednesday afternoon.

Several hundred Gillingham fans are making the trip to follow their team to the lakeside resort in northern Italy.

Harris has plenty planned for his side before the match at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, using Como’s facilities to prepare for their second pre-season match. Their first was a 4-0 win over Dover.

The Gills boss said: “We have pitch sessions planned for the lads, gym sessions, video meetings and we can bed in some ideas as well, then time around it for the guys to develop as a group and be together a lot.

“It is good for me to get to know my players, especially my new ones well.

“We have a fantastic game on Wednesday, a tough game against a really good side and it will be a physical encounter in the heat, but also an opportunity to see where we are at against a top level opposition as well.

“I am expecting a safe trip, for my lads to turn up on time, that’s a big thing when you’re a manager! You’re worrying about 30-odd people getting to the airport, you want them to turn up in one piece and on time, certainty with their passports.

“It should be a mega week - I am looking forward to it and then we’re going into two really tough home games against Millwall (July 15) and Charlton (July 18) afterwards, so what an opportunity in that six games, Como away, Charlton and Millwall home, it’s a top level pre-season programme.”

The Gills haven’t ventured far for pre-season in recent years, with the odd trip to Calais and slightly further down to Le Touquet.

It’s a trip that Harris appreciates.

“There has been a lot of planning done behind the scenes,” said the manager.

“Huge thanks to Brad (Galinson, the owner) for financing it and taking us, it will be an opportunity not just for me and the players but the board as well who are going to come and the support from the fans who are going to be there.

“Whatever happens in the game we are going to be competitive and try and impose ourselves. It is an opportunity for fans to watch their team abroad, it is great.

“There are a lot of logistics yes, while we’re away there is a lot of logistics for me and my staff, but we will get a bit of down time, maybe late in the evening, just to chill out a little bit but during the day, planning etcetera, it’s non-stop for us. But it is a great environment to do it in, we’re really pleased.

“Como is a beautiful place. It’s a great opportunity for us as a club to come together.”