Gillingham’s players are preparing for a crucial weekend in Essex.

A trip to Colchester United on Friday night is followed by a visit to Canvey Island on Saturday.

The majority of the players will get 90 minutes, as the squad is split in two, in what is their final chance to stake a claim for a place in the starting XI for the league opener at Doncaster next Saturday.

Coach Jamie Day said: “We have an idea who has done well enough to get a slight nod but we still have two weeks and things can change.

“It is a big weekend because the players who are playing in either game need to perform to put that idea in the gaffer’s head that they should be playing the following Saturday.

“Whether they are playing at Colchester or Canvey, they have got to make sure they go out there and be the best on the pitch to give themselves the best chance of starting.”

Gillingham are unbeaten in pre-season, beating Belgian side Patro Eisden 4-1 in their latest outing at Priestfield on Tuesday night. It means there are going to be some tricky decisions ahead for the Gills management.

“Pre-season is a nice time for the staff,” said Day.

“Nobody is moaning that they are not in the team, everyone is playing and getting minutes.

"We know the next few days we need to start nailing down who we think are going to start at Doncaster.

“We’ll get this weekend out of the way and hopefully there are no injuries and we have a full squad to pick from. It is then down to the gaffer to pick the best team.

“There are disappointments but you have to show the right character, keep working hard, keep knocking on the gaffer’s door and when the chance comes, you have to take it.”

Read the full story in Thursday's Medway Messenger.