The last time Gills keeper Stephen Bywater visited Bramall Lane was when former side Sheffield Wednesday were chasing promotion from League 1.

Wednesday scored two late goals to draw that game 2-2 in October 2011 and they would eventually edge their Sheffield rivals United to promotion by just three points.

Bywater who will line up for the Gills against United on Saturday, remembers his time at Hillsborough fondly.

“We did them in the year we got promotion with Sheffield Wednesday,” said the 33-year-old.

“It was between us two as to who would take the second spot for automatic. We got that second spot in the last couple of games and they lost in the play-offs.

“Both teams should be in the same league (the Championship) because they are both big clubs but Wednesday is the bigger club, in my opinion.

“I have played for Wednesday and seen the atmosphere at their ground. It was always a better atmosphere at Wednesday.

“They were brilliant derbies and it was just so passionate. A Steel City derby is up there with the West Ham-Millwall derby and the Forest-Derby derby, it is brilliant. The atmosphere is rocking and the build-up to it is exciting – you know there will be a big crowd and big expectations.

“I played in the Ipswich-Norwich derby as well and that was the same.

“I hope we can go there (Bramall Lane) and put on a performance.”

Bywater had been sold to Wednesday by Derby, whose then manager Nigel Clough felt the he was surplus to requirements at Pride Park. The keeper will now come up against Clough, who has been manager of Sheffield United for just under a year.

Whether Bywater’s Wednesday links draw a backlash from the United fans is of no concern to the keeper who is currently on loan from Millwall.

He said: “I don’t care. They can think what they like. We did a job that year and moved on.

“I don’t have anything to say about Sheffield United other than that I am going to travel there, play there and hopefully for Gillingham supporters and the gaffer, we are going to do well and get something from the game.”