It’s the biggest test yet for Gills on Saturday.

They put their winning form on the line with a trip to table-topping Wigan.

Steve Lovell’s men have won their last four but Wigan are 10 unbeaten in the league and have recently knocked Premier League sides Bournemouth and West Ham out of the FA Cup.

It’s form that Lovell respects.

He said: “We go there with a bit of fear because they are a bloody good side, they are the best in the league, that’s why they’re top.

“They have a good manager, good players, and when they came down here it was an excellent game, probably one of the best games we have been involved in.

“Cookie (Wigan manager Paul Cook) gave us the greatest compliment after that game by saying that we should have won, and maybe we should have at the end, but it will be different on Saturday.

“They are flying high and will be full of confidence but so are we. We are looking forward to it, we will go out there and really have a go at them and make sure they know that they have been in a game.”

Lovell’s side have won their last four matches, moving them up to 10th in League 1.

Gillingham have already won at Scunthorpe, Charlton and Fleetwood in their last three outings, but Saturday’s test is likely to be tougher than all of those.

Asked if it was his toughest test yet, Lovell said: “Yes, most probably, but I think every game is a challenge.

“Nothing is a given in this league, every managers will say the same, you have to work for it, whether you’re playing a top or a bottom side.”

Read more from Steve Lovell in this week's Medway Messenger newspaper.