Gillingham will be sending a young team to take on Hythe Town tonight in the Kent Senior Cup.

A handful of young Gillingham pros will make the trip to Reachfields for the first round match but the majority of the team will be made up from the club’s youth set-up.

Recent breakthrough player Darren Oldaker is likely to feature. The 17-year-old midfielder has made six first team appearances for the Gills so far this season.

Goalkeeper Tom Hadler and defender Mitchell Dickenson are also set to play against the Ryman League team.

First team boss Justin Edinburgh said: “We are sending a couple of young boys down to get some minutes.

“A lot of the fringe players have played games recently and been involved.

“It is a good opportunity for the second year (youth players) to go and play against senior players and to see where they are.”

Hythe’s young striker Alfie May could be the biggest threat to the Gills, a player who has been watched by the League 1 club this season.

May, with 12 goals this season so far, is one of several that Edinburgh and his management team are keeping tabs on.

Edinburgh said: “We look at lots of players in the area. We always have a network of people looking at non-league. We think it is a good market to keep our eye on.”

Hythe boss Clive Cook said; “He’s got to get it into his head that clubs are looking at him, there were a couple more scouts there on Saturday too.

“If he continues to think about the club and the team then I have no doubt he’ll keep putting in very good performance. Sometimes players get it into their heads that it’s about them as an individual.

“That’s not him. He’s dealing with it all very well for such a young man.”

The winners of the match will face VCD away in round two. Kick off tonight is at 7.45pm.