Gillingham manager Neil Harris finally has selection problems of the best kind.

Harris looks like he’ll need to leave two or three senior players out of the squad on Saturday - a problem he’s rarely faced since taking charge of the Gills.

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His 10 January signings have boosted the Gills squad with a handful of experienced campaigners joined by some players the club hope will develop over time.

Captain Stuart O’Keefe was left out last weekend and although injuries to Scott Kashket and Lewis Walker have meant Harris’ options have lessened, there are still fit and hungry players who won’t take part against Crawley on Saturday.

Harris said: “I have to look at trimming the group from 20 to 18, which is a nice problem to have.

“You want quality additions, you want quality in the changing room, you want competition for places and you want people that when they get the shirt they want to keep it.

“If they don’t play well then they are going to lose the shirt, if someone comes in then they keep it, if I can rotate players when we go Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday and I can bring in like-for-like, brilliant, that is the plan and why we recruited who we have.

“In the first half of the season people got appearances by default. Their places were safe because maybe we didn’t have the strength in depth but now the gloves are off, you have to play well to stay in the team or to get in the team.

“I have made it clear with certain comments that if you don’t train well or have the right attitude you just won’t play for the club.”

• Nichols 'too old and too small' for Crawley

Jordan Green has already been told he won’t play again this season.

The Gills have performed well in their last three matches heading into Saturday’s game against Crawley Town. It’s a game against another side attempting to fight off the threat of relegation.

Scott Lindsey’s Crawley - 3-2 winners over Salford last time out - are four points above the relegation places. The Gills occupy the second of those two spots, above bottom side Rochdale.

It will be a full-house at Priestfield, with over 9,000 fans at ME7 lured in by cheap tickets and a club that are hopefully back on the up.

Harris said: “The fans are coming not just because it is cheap but because they want to watch their team and everyone is excited about coming on Saturday.

“It doesn’t just mean we turn up and win a game of football, we are playing a good side who have signed a lot of players themselves and have got a new manager.

“They have some good players in their group, we know it is a tough challenge, but the ground will be rocking, it will be full, the dressing room is excited and buzzing, we are a football club that is united and we have to perform like that on Saturday.”

One of Gillingham's new recruits Tom Nichols has scored three in three appearances since his move from weekend visitors Crawley.

The striker had a few weeks to settle in at Gills, signing on before the January transfer window opened and watching the match against Leicester City while cup-tied. Since then he’s hit the ground running for his new side.

Harris said: “He has been a breath of fresh air in the building, a great lad and great in the changing room.

“Those two to three weeks he had with us set him in great stead, he trained, we got him a little bit fitter and gave him the opportunity to integrate into the group without the pressure of having to be fit for a Saturday.

“He has shown that he is a quality player that has got timing and goal instinct. I want him in the box to score goals, I will be demanding of him because he is a leader, not always by voice, by presence and game understanding.

“It has been a really good start. No pressure from me, it would be lovely if he could make it four in four, but he has got off to a great start in a Gillingham shirt and long may it continue.”