Gillingham manager Steve Evans knows his team will have to perform better than ever to beat big-spending Peterborough United this weekend.

His former club are on a three-game losing streak in League 1 but have bolstered their squad this week after splashing out £500,000 on Barnet midfielder Jack Taylor – a fee that could rise to £1million.

Huddersfield midfielder Reece Brown has also joined the Posh after attracting interest from a host of other sides.

Both look set to face a Gillingham team who are now knocking on the door of the play-offs, just three points adrift of a Posh side who start the weekend in sixth place.

Evans said: “It would be a remarkable achievement by us to be near that top six or seven on Saturday night. But for us to do that we will have to produce the season’s best performance.

“I know a lot of their players, I don’t know their new ones, but they have some fantastic talent and that is credit to (manager) Darren Ferguson and (chairman) Darragh MacAnthony because he is the one who has to find the money, although I don’t think he has to look too far!

“You look around the sheer quality they have got and the money that they have spent on good players.

“We know it will be tough for us but we know the rewards. When the fixtures came out, nobody expected us to be going to Peterborough on January 11 with the chance to draw level with them in the table.

“The task will be difficult, but we are not going to go there and lie down, are we? We are going to fight, scrap and kick and do what it takes to get a result.”

Evans was sacked by Posh at the end of January last year, with the team sitting sixth in League 1.

It was a big blow to lose his job with his adopted team. The Glaswegian has lived in Peterborough for 30-odd years and considers himself a lifelong fan of the club.

That will remain, whatever kind of reception he gets from the London Road crowd on Saturday.

He said: “When I finish my working days and I am old and just want to watch a football match, it will be at Posh. I know a lot of the players really well and the owner, Darragh, along with people around the scenes. It is a great football club.

“The first two results I look for every week are Celtic and Peterborough.

“The fans gave me a bit of stick when they beat us at Priestfield but I have been a supporter for the best part of 30 years.

“They sacked me and it was the owner and board’s decision. You have to respect their right to be able to do it.

“That is one thing you probably get by being a more mature manager, you accept that it can happen even if you think it’s not deserved. I still love everyone at the club.”

Gills defender Max Ehmer is expected to shake off a knock which he picked up in the FA Cup match against West Ham on Sunday.

Striker Mikael Mandron – who missed the game following the birth of his baby boy Knight – is back in contention after resuming training.