Gillingham manager Neil Harris expects Priestfield to be buzzing this Saturday after their remarkable midweek League Cup exploits.

Harris’ lowly League 2 side went to the Premier League’s 11th placed side Brentford and knocked them out of the competition on Tuesday. The Gills now return to league action when they host high-flying Northampton Town.

The season for the Gills had been full of woes before that penalty success at Brentford and Harris said: “We will have a fanbase coming on Saturday that will be buzzing from Tuesday. There will be a buzz about the place and we have to feed off that.

“It is down to the players to respond, there can be no 'after the Lord Mayor’s show', after a big scalp Tuesday, we need to make sure we are at it on Saturday. Northampton is our biggest game of the season so far because it’s the next one and we’re playing against a very good side.

“They are athletic, a hard working side, (they’ve) got some ability at the top end of the pitch, well organised, (they have) goal scoring and running ability, knowledge of the division, they are competitive and want to be promoted. They want to be in the top three and we know it is going to be another challenge.

“We are going to have to be are best for 90 minutes, 45 or 60 won’t cut it, that is the challenge to my players, to make sure they are at it for the majority of the game.”

Northampton are third from top of League 2 while the Gills head into the weekend third from bottom, two points off the side sitting at the foot of the table.

But Harris said: “I wouldn’t say they are miles ahead of us, points, yes, we just don’t score enough goals, that is the bottom line again.

"We really look forward to it with a bounce from Tuesday and look forward to welcoming a decent side to Priestfield, a really good challenge for us.”

With 16 games played Harris feels there is enough time to pull clear of potential trouble at the bottom and believes it’s too early to be talking relegation battles.

“It is too early to talk about that at the moment,” he insisted. “I have to look at the small steps and the next game, I don’t try and get too far ahead.

“I talk about potential at the club, I see it, it’s huge, a great opportunity, but we have to take those small steps, it’s like slowing a juggernaut down and trying to then push it up a hill and restart it.

“It’s a challenge every day, I embrace it and enjoy it at times. At the moment we have got to improve at the top end of the pitch, we showed that the other night against a top side, who did create chances but didn’t open us up too much.

“We can set a team up to be in every fixture, we have found a way, we just haven’t been creative enough at the top end of the pitch. For me, it is about Saturday’s game and the next transfer window and trying to get some support to help us as a group.”

Defender Elkan Baggott is a weekend doubt after he picked up a knock to his ankle on Tuesday, colliding with team-mate Ryan Law as they hung onto a 1-1 draw against Brentford.

Max Ehmer will return to the squad from League Cup suspension while Haji Mnoga is back available for selection after being cup-tied. Glenn Morris is expected to return in goal ahead of Jake Turner who played against Brentford.

Olly Lee will be missing again with a quad injury while Ben Reeves is rated as 50-50 to return. Having Reeves back would be a big boost for the manager.

Harris said: “He is going to be a really important player for us moving forward this season, he brings a spark, brings character and energy, bravery to take the ball. I have used him behind the striker and deeper where he excelled. We need a fit Ben Reeves.”

Defender David Tutonda is expected back soon, with the manager saying: “I was hoping he would be back involved by now but it seems to be taking forever, to come back. We need David to get up to speed quickly.”

Young striker Joe Gbode, meanwhile, has gone back out on loan to join Isthmian Premier Division Hastings United.