Gillingham are preparing for a table-topping clash that boss Justin Edinburgh admits nobody expected to see.

The Gills finished 12th in the last campaign and Walsall were three points worse off but both teams have led the charge in League 1 this season.

Edinburgh’s men are two points clear of Walsall ahead of the trip to the Bescot Stadium on Saturday.

“I don’t expect many people would have had this fixture down as the top two playing one another,” said the Gills boss.

“But credit to ourselves and Walsall and their manager Dean Smith, the start to the season has seen us both be up there and stay there.

“It is an exciting game and one we look forward to but we know how tough it will be. We will have to work as hard as we have been doing to get something from the game.

“It is the kind of game you want to be playing in as a player, that’s for sure.”

The Gills have been on and off the top all season, while Walsall have spent time at the summit themselves. Staying there is tough.

“It is very difficult,” said Edinburgh, who many fans hoped would lead the Gills towards a play-off challenge this season.

“It is a learning curve for us, myself and the group. Nobody would have envisaged that for long periods we would be in the top three since the start of the season."