A midweek EFL Trophy match could be just the occasion for some of Gillingham’s players to find some form.

That’s the hope from Gillingham manager Neil Harris as he looks to make the most from a fixture that is way down on his priority list.

The Gills play the first of three group stage matches in the Trophy, up against League 1 Leyton Orient at Priestfield tonight (Tuesday, 7pm).

Looking ahead to the fixture, Harris said: “It might be an opportunity to rest a few, to give minutes to few, but it is also an opportunity for players to find a bit of form as well, players that need match minutes and form, might need a goal, it’s a great opportunity for them.”

The Gills are in a group that also includes Fulham under-21s and Portsmouth. Those two sides have already met, with Pompey claiming an extra point with a win on penalties after a 3-3 draw.

Orient have found life tough in League 1 since winning promotion last season as League 2 champions. Their only success to date is a 2-0 win over Cambridge United.

Harris’ men started the season with four straight wins in the league and a Carabao Cup win over Southampton but have struggled since. The weekend defeat at Grimsby was the low point so far.

Midfielder George Lapslie could feature. Harris is hoping he’ll be available again after injury.

“I was majorly disappointed he wasn’t there on Saturday,” said the Gills boss. “I will be majorly disappointed if he hasn’t made himself available (tonight), then we are back to Saturday. Hopefully, he is back for Saturday at the latest.”

On his other injured player, Harris said: “Hawkins saw a specialist on Friday with his foot injury and it was positive, after fearing the worst, but still no definite date as to when he will be ready.”

Tom Nichols and Tim Dieng have both received treatment following weekend injuries. Nichols limped off before half-time while Dieng took a late blow from a poor challenge.

Dom Jefferies, meanwhile, is “progressing well for the level of hamstring injury he has” with Harris adding: “He is a fit lad but it is a muscular tear so we have to be mindful of that and it will be at least a few weeks.”

Those injuries have left Harris’ first team squad a little light in numbers.

He said: “You look like a big squad, a healthy and experienced squad, and then you lose four or five.

“Defensively we have a lot of players but then you have no Ethan Coleman (suspended), Dom and Oli Hawkins, George Lapslie and all of a sudden you look light at the top end of the pitch.

“That is where you need some luck injury-wise and age of players is key and that’s why I have had to rotate at times and we will have to continue to do that and take care of people with their minutes and training schedules because we are quite light in the senior group.”

Harris does have a crop of B team players he can call on but said: “We can’t just put lads in because they are in the B team, a lot of those lads are only 17, 18, they can only play in the first team when they are ready.”

Left-back Max Clark will be keen for some action while young striker Ronald Sithole has been on the first-team bench in the last two games, making his senior debut at Luton Town in the League Cup.