Gillingham manager Neil Harris is expecting a very different game this Saturday compared to their last challenge.

Barrow head to Priestfield a week after Steve Evans’ table topping Stevenage were held to a draw by Harris’ steadily improving Gillingham side.

“[It will be a] completely different game,” Harris predicted. “Stevenage are excellent at what they do as we have seen, very direct, forward play, forward running, they ask a lot of questions of you.

“Barrow had a real good start and then have had a few more disappointing results more recently (losing their last four in the league) but have a clear identity. They like to have the ball, like to play, they have some exciting players, pace in the wide areas, a well organised League 2 side, I would say quite similar to Crewe in the way they build and play.

“It is going to be a game where we have to be patient and respect the opponent, but we are at home, we’re six unbeaten and we feel we are in a really good place so we are looking forward to the game.”

The Gills are also finding the net more frequently.

“Fans are starting to see now that actually we are doing alright,” Harris said. “We’re getting better, there is an improvement in the team, a much better atmosphere in the stadium.

“Last week we were playing top of the league, Stevenage had a good following, fans came to see a bit of Steve Evans and Paul Raynor on the sideline and that made for an interesting spectacle for the supporters as well. There was a bit of spice on the game, the fans were brilliant, it was an excellent Gillingham atmosphere.

"This week it is slightly different against Barrow, it is down to us as a group to put in a performance but also to the fans to have the right mentality to get behind their team.

“The boys are growing in confidence and you can see we had a strong performance against Stevenage with an enjoyable atmosphere. There is a good feel about the place at the moment, in and out of the building. We just want to keep the momentum going.

“I was talking to Steve (Evans) after the game, having a beer. Teams look at Gillingham not as a bottom six or eight team, they look at us as being very competitive in every game and everyone says the same, [but ask] why haven’t you scored more goals? Well I would be the Prime Minister if I knew that!

“I think people are looking at us thinking ‘well organised team, hard to break down, a difficult side to play against who ask questions.’ We have to take those small steps and as a manager appreciate them and say we are getting there.

"There is lots more to come, but we have been to Crewe (1-1), played Sutton who ask a lot of questions of you (won 1-0) and now played Stevenage, top of the league and given very little away and that is a positive. I won’t rest on that, we want more top end of the pitch.”

Captain Stuart O’Keefe is closing in on a return, back in training after missing the last three league games through injury. Olly Lee played 45-minutes of an hour-long practice match against Dover Athletic on Tuesday at Beechings Cross. It was a game that gave Haji Mnoga, Josh Chambers, Bailey Akehurst, Joe Gbode, Jordan Green and Dom Jefferies the chance for a run-out.

Harris made a change to his team last week to combat Stevenage’s physical strength, bringing in towering defender Elkan Baggott to replace Ryan Law. He could look to a different set-up this weekend.

He said: “Elkan came back in and did well and scored the goal and it is a decision that I might have to leave one of the centre-halves out, Max, Elkan or Will, Ryan Law has done nothing wrong at left-back, he gives us that left-foot balance. He was slightly hard done by to come out of the side but I picked a team for that game which I felt was correct, this week will be different.”