Gillingham boss Steve Evans is preparing for a weekend match against a team of Championship-class players.

It’s a League 1 match at Priestfield on Saturday but Evans sees plenty of class in the Wigan Athletic squad that will be heading south.

The visitors sit second in the table after losing 2-1 at home to Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday night. They had been top of the pile before their midweek defeat against another of the division’s heavyweights.

Evans said: “I had a little look at their starting line-up when sat relaxing before our game and then I had a look at the bench and every one of those players on the bench could play in the Championship tomorrow. That tells you something.

“They lost to Sheffield Wednesday and they have kept a Championship squad and Ipswich have now found their feet (thumping Doncaster 6-0 on Tuesday) which was always going to happen.

“It is really difficult for us when we come up against these teams but our season will not be defined by how we get on against the likes of Sunderland or Wigan, or even Ipswich, or the other big-spending clubs.”

Wigan struggled last season following relegation from the Championship but have bounced back this term.

They will hope to get over the midweek setback at Priestfield tomorrow (Saturday).

Visiting boss Leam Richardson said: “It’s up to me to reset everyone now.

"A lot of people know that we have come a long way, quickly.

“They are disappointed that they are losing to Sheffield Wednesday who have just been relegated from the Championship. If they are disappointed with that result on the back of that performance we should be okay."