Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth looks ahead to their first pre-season game of the summer at Dover Athletic on Tuesday night

Gillingham’s first pre-season game takes place at Dover Athletic tonight.

Boss Gareth Ainsworth has said there will be “experiments, youngsters and trialists” included in the match at Crabble.

It’s the second year running that Ainsworth has chosen Dover as his side’s first pre-season challenge.

Dover finished just above the relegation places last season.

“It's a great place to go,” said the Gills boss.

“The pitch is always nice, we're always very welcome and the Andy Hess connection is great. It works for us and hopefully it works for Dover. We're looking forward to it.

“There's not a great deal I put on pre-season games; there's going to be experiments and youngsters and trialists and things like that, and when the season actually starts that's when we get judged, and I hope we start the season well.”

Dover are likely to include former Gills player Euan Williams, who was released by Ainsworth at the end of last season.

The injury-hit midfielder scored for Dover at the weekend in a win over Cray Wanderers.

The match, which kicks off at 7.30pm, will give Gills fans the chance to see some of their new signings.

Ainsworth has been busy, with seven new arrivals. All of them will be expected to get 45 minutes against National South opposition.

Gillingham’s players reported back for duty at the start of the month, and Ainsworth has been gradually moving away from pure fitness work as he looks to put his stamp on the new-look squad.

“We’ve been really pleased with the application of the boys,” he said.

“Everyone came back in good shape, some surprises actually, where people have done some real good work in the summer.

“The first four or five days [was fitness work] with the sports science team and then towards the latter end of