Gillingham head coach Stephen Clemence on a crucial Easter double-header in the League 2 play-off race; Rainham End sold-out at Priestfield for visit of Crewe Alexandra

Gillingham boss Stephen Clemence expects a crucial Easter double-header to sort out the “runners and riders” in the League 2 play-off race.

The eighth-placed Gills begin a vital League 2 double-header at home to Crewe today, a match which is followed by an Easter Monday trip to Harrogate (both 3pm).

Heading into the business end of the season, there’s only five points between seventh-placed Crawley and Harrogate, who sit 13th.

Clemence said: “It sorts out the runners and riders, (having) two games quite quickly.

“If we’re in there after these two games, I would imagine we will still be in there until the end of the season. If you have a couple of bad results over the Easter period, obviously, it’s not good at this stage of the season.

“The aim is to get as many points as we can against Crewe and Harrogate.

“They’re two tough opponents but, as I always say, we will be tough opponents for them, as well.”

Gillingham are without a home league win since February 24 but are set to be backed by the majority of a crowd of more than 6,000, with the Rainham End sold-out at Priestfield.

On looking for a win in their last home match until April 13, Clemence said: “That’s always the intention. It’s the intention when we go away from home, too.

“But we’re really looking forward to it. If we can win the game on Friday, which is the aim, we will pull Crewe closer towards us. They’re six points ahead of us at the moment.

“The intention is to try and win the game, and to bring them into the mix, too.

“We don’t want the people that are ahead of us getting too comfortable. We have an opportunity this weekend to make somebody feel uncomfortable.

“We need our supporters to make Crewe feel uncomfortable, we need the players to make Crewe feel