Gillingham manager Steve Evans says his players don’t need reminding what will happen if they ease off against Wigan tonight.

The Gills have taken points off some top teams in recent weeks but they recently lost to strugglers Wimbledon and have also slipped up against lowly sides Burton Albion and Northampton Town.

Wigan sit third from bottom in League 1 and Evans is concerned that the midweek visitors have picked up some form of late, with a couple of wins this month and a weekend draw against play-off hopefuls Ipswich Town.

Evans said: “We never beat Wimbledon, never beat Northampton, never beat Rochdale and never beat Burton. My players don’t need reminding.

“They know they have an opportunity here, an opportunity to do the real unexpected.”

Gillingham are looking to get themselves in the play-off mix and with no other League 1 games played tonight (Wednesday) they know a win against Wigan would take them up to sixth place. Those placed third to sixth will contest the end of season play-offs.

The rest of League 1 play on Good Friday. Gillingham and Wigan agreed to move their fixture to allow them more time to prepare for matches on Easter Monday. The Gills have a long trip to Blackpool.

Evans said making sixth place wouldn’t bother him on Wednesday, he knows there is still plenty to do to ensure they stay there.

Winning the match won’t be easy, with the Gills boss saying: “It will be tough, they have had some great results in recent weeks, really good ones and they are playing with confidence.

“If we don’t look after Wednesday then it is more about hope on Friday. We have to look after ourselves, which is what it’s all about. We have to keep totally focused on our own situation and try and deal with Wigan.”

The Gills will hope to have defender Robbie Cundy back available after he missed the weekend trip to Hull City following a bang to the knee.

Evans has been thrilled with the way his team have kept the play-off dream alive. They have just eight games left this season and the manager hopes to remain within touching distance for the final few outings.

He said: “The boys are working so hard, they are taking onboard the ideas and instruction, they are working hard for each other and when you have a group like that they can achieve the almost impossible.

“We have moved to eight games to go and we are still fighting tooth and nail to try and haul ourselves into that group.

“Before the game on Saturday [Hull manager] Grant McCann made a comment locally that nobody would want to play us and I think that’s right. We look forward to every game thinking we can win.”

Kick off is at 5.30pm.