Gillingham won’t be taking their non-league opponents lightly when they head to AFC Fylde in the FA Cup.

The Gills have come unstuck against non-league sides such as Burscough, Dover and Brackley (twice) in the last two decades and had to fight back from a two-goal deficit to beat Woking two years ago.

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Gillingham's latest FA Cup adventure takes them to National League North side AFC Fylde, a team who have already played six games in the competition to make it through to the first round proper.

“It’s a winnable tie,” said Gills boss Neil Harris. “I have the utmost respect for the opponent, but they are two leagues below us.

“It is going to be one hell of a mighty challenge for us away from home at Fylde, who will have a right go, but my players should be thinking it’s an opportunity to build some individual form and collective form as well, and get us back on a run again.

“I am looking forward to seeing my players respond from two tough away games where we have got nothing out of them. It’s a third tough away game.”

Harris has enjoyed the highs and experienced the lows of the FA Cup, reaching the 2004 FA Cup final as a player for Millwall where they lost to a Manchester United side still in their prime under Alex Ferguson.

The following year, in November 2005, he found himself playing for Gillingham and tasting defeat at non-league Burscough, one match he’s happy to forget.

“We just didn’t play very well on the day,” he recalled. “We gave poor goals away, the weather was horrific, it wasn’t a good time.

“I have had a lot more positive days in the competition than negative ones.

“As a kid growing up I remember going to cup finals, I remember being at Liverpool v Wimbledon with my dad in ‘88. My dad’s a Wimbledon fan. It was an important moment in my life growing up.

“I was lucky enough to play in a final as an underdog with Millwall and as a manager in a couple of quarter-finals, I just think it is a great competition, it is steeped in history and we will be taking it very seriously at the weekend.

“Playing in the final is special, not just for yourself and the club you represent, but also your family, a big and proud moment. I would say the semi-final is probably the one that means so much, the final you have achieved, you are there.

“I watched the FA Youth Cup the other night (Gillingham’s under-18s beat Corinthian-Casuals 4-1 on Tuesday night to progress to round two) and what it meant to our young boys to represent our club and beat a lower-level team, but you could see with their celebration at the end, you can see that cup football gives that real winning mentality feeling.”

Gillingham have never played AFC Fylde before but will be up against a player that Harris and the visiting fans know well.

Midfielder Curtis Weston played in that 2004 final alongside Harris, coming off the bench for Millwall to become the youngest player to appear in a final, at the age of 17.

Weston would later come and play for the Gills, playing 150 league games between 2008 and 2012, including being part of the 2009 side that won promotion at Wembley in the League 2 play-offs. Now, 35, he’s part of the Fylde side hoping to cause an upset.

“He was only 17 then," Harris said. "A lot younger, quieter, a good lad and a good player coming through, it will be nice for me and (assistant manager) David Livermore to see him at the weekend, all grown up.”

Livermore also played in that final against United.

Gillingham will be missing a couple of their own midfield contingent this weekend with Harris admitting neither Shaun Williams or Ben Reeves will be fit to play.

Winger Jordan Green limped off last week against Doncaster and is rated at 50-50 to make an appearance.

Harris must also decide whether to swap his goalkeepers. He’s played No.2 Jake Turner in all of the other cup games so far but may prefer to stick with first-choice stopper Glenn Morris.

Saturday’s game is the first of two cup matches in quick succession, with the Gills taking on Premier League Brentford in the League Cup on Tuesday night.

It’s 100% focus on AFC Fylde for now, however.

Harris said: “We prepare in the correct manner, no stone unturned, players will be ready for 3pm Saturday because a lot of games in the FA Cup are about mentality, as well as physicality.

“We are coming up against a good Fylde team who have had a good season so far, play some good football and they have some dangerous players. Our players are fully aware of what is expected of them.”

Fylde are seventh in National League North with just one home defeat from their seven games at their Mill Farm Stadium. The Gills, in contrast, haven’t won away in the league this season, their only success on their travels coming in the League Cup at Wimbledon in August.