Gillingham players are due in earlier than normal on Tuesday so the management can assess who is fit and available for a “huge challenge” against Portsmouth.

A sickness bug ruled Jacob Mellis out last weekend and a couple more players have been struck down since. Captain Kyle Dempsey is also a doubt after picking up a knock in the defeat to MK Dons .

Manager Steve Evans said he was likely to make changes but his team selection might be governed as much by who turns up ready to go on Tuesday morning.

Assistant boss Paul Raynor spoke to the club ahead of this latest fixture and said numbers were light in training on Monday as they looked to rebuild following their weekend loss.

He said: “We’ve managed to assess what happened on Saturday, we have spoken to the guys and done some work. We were short on bodies so it was a little bit difficult to do too much but we have got across what we wanted and what we need to do better.

“We will get them in earlier, have a head count and see where we go.”

He added: “It will be an improved performance, you can be sure of that.”

Pompey lost 1-0 to Doncaster on Saturday, ending a run of back to back wins in the league.

The visitors are without striker Ellis Harrison after he was injured at the weekend. That could mean a start for John Marquis, who enjoyed a successful loan spell with the Gills during the 2014/15 season.

Gillingham-born Sean Raggett is likely to start at the back for the visitors.

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