Gillingham boss Neil Harris admits Saturday’s FA Cup clash at Dagenham could be a close contest - regardless of the division that separates the teams.

The Gills sit second from bottom in League 2 while Dagenham - under former Ebbsfleet boss Daryl McMahon - are ninth in the National League.

Harris’ men have already overcome one non-league side, defeating AFC Fylde in a first round replay, and he’s expecting another tough challenge on Saturday in round two.

“I know what to expect,” said Harris. “It’s a settled football club, a consistent manager and I watched a couple of their games on Wednesday to see how they play and they are very similar to last year when I went and watched them to see Will Wright [who signed from Dagenham] a couple of times.

“(It’s the) FA Cup at its finest, National League versus League 2, brilliant, there won’t be a lot between the sides that is for sure, they are a top-half side in the National League and we are bottom half in League 2, so it will be a very even game.”

Dagenham games can be quite open and they’ve been involved in some high-scoring games this season.

“They score goals but let loads in as well,” Harris said. “I do expect a bit more of an open game of football against them, they like to get the ball wide and like to get the ball in the box, we have to make sure we nullify their threat and then be every bit as forward thinking as we were at Crawley on Tuesday night.”

With the Gills lacking goals, Harris will be hoping the FA Cup match brings more success, against a side who have conceded plenty this term.

“It is not like we haven’t created chances,” Harris said. “We got into good areas again the other night, just hopefully it clicks and one, if not two of them, get up and running properly.

“At Newport (last Saturday) Stu (O’Keefe) missed from eight yards with the goalie to beat and Max (Ehmer) hit the bar with no goalie. Yes there has been the odd game where we have been a bit sterile, most teams are like that, but we have had chances, we’ve made them, we just haven’t taken them in the league, the cup has been different, I hope that to be the case again Saturday.

“We have to make sure the mentality we have from Tuesday to give nothing away is still there and at the top end ‘come on fellas, bring your shooting boots please!’

The Gills have made good money out of cup competitions so far and will hope for a place in the third round of the FA Cup and another potential big day out.

“The FA Cup first round was good money,” Harris said. “Carabao Cup is terrible prize money but it is the gate receipts which are important for us.

"Brentford was sold out, Wolves will be sold out, that’s fantastic money, prize money in the FA Cup is outstanding so there is an importance to get through in that but I can’t focus on that, I need to focus on winning the game against Dagenham for footballing reasons, I just want to be in the third round.”

Any extra funds his team make in the cup could prove beneficial come January, however, when he looks to build on his team for the second half of the season, with the transfer window open.

Asked if it will help, he said: “I would like to think so, I have had that scenario in the past but I can’t focus on that to win this game, but the bigger picture is that any revenue that comes in is obviously a big plus for us.

“All that matters on Saturday is being in the third round, that is what we want. We had an extremely difficult tie against Fylde in the first game, which went massively under the radar how we coped on the mental side of it, overcoming a non-league hoodoo at this football club.

“We should have come away with a comfortable win but conceded late on (in the first game) and then to come back (for the replay) and play in another difficult game and come through without any real problem, again Dagenham is the same, an underdog status because it is non-league versus league but it is two very evenly matched teams and we will go and enjoy it.

“Anyone who thinks a league team should beat a non-league team are absolute nuts, we won at Brentford, then Brentford beat Man City, ‘we’re better than Man City' our fans think! I can't get involved in those conversations because they drive me mad but what people need to realise is that Fylde’s wage bill isn’t far behind Gillingham, very very close, they are full time but they are two leagues below, Dagenham exactly the same.

“The game has massively changed now. Fylde had a hotel in their stand and that wasn’t cheap to build and a pitch like a carpet.

“The first round draw and third round draw are two massive highlights of the football calendar and we need to make sure we're in it.”

Gillingham’s match kicks off at 5pm on Saturday after being selected for overseas coverage.

“I like the idea of the kick off time, the floodlights will be on and it will have a real cup feel to it,” said Harris, whose game will be played during a busy day of World Cup action, kicking off after France’s match with Denmark starts and prior to Argentina’s game against Mexico.

Harris added: “I’ve got to be honest, I wasn’t looking forward to the World Cup but I think it’s been brilliant, it’s given me real impetus on football and I hope that continues.”

Harris has said he won’t be picking new signing Callum Harriott until he is fit but could return loan players Ryan Laws (Plymouth) and Haji Mnoga (Portsmouth) to the squad. Both were left out on Tuesday as he went for attacking options on the bench.

Elkan Baggott was an unused substitute after previously being an ever-present as he was in need of a rest. Olly Lee is training but will be another who needs to prove his fitness before making a return to the squad.

Teenage striker Joe Gbode is expected to remain in the squad after making his first senior start on Tuesday. Goalkeeper Glenn Morris is expected to be missing for six weeks with a shoulder injury.

Another youngster, Josh Chambers, is expected to remain at National South Worthing for the time being, despite making a big impression. He picked up the man-of-the-match award for his performance in midweek against Tonbridge Angels, scoring with a 25-yard free-kick.