Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth says League 1 promotion-chasers Luton Town have set the standard ahead of their League 2 opener against Walsall this Saturday

Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth hopes his players will benefit from their Carabao Cup defeat.

The Gills start their League 2 campaign at home to Walsall this Saturday.

They come into the game on the back of a 3-0 Carabao Cup defeat by League 1 Luton but Ainsworth hopes the quality of their opponents will help focus minds among his players.

“That really gives us a kick up the backside,” claimed Ainsworth. “If we think it's going to be easy this year, we need to know that that's the standard.

“They will be up there near the top of League 1 and I'm sure they're going to be up this season.

“That's what you've got to be. They settled the ball better than us. They were quicker than us. They had some athletes.

“As you go up the levels, the athleticism, the players, the speed, the fitness, the height, everything increases as you go upwards.

“I think they were, on the athleticism side, a little bit better than us but you're going to get that with the league above, and we've got to match it somehow.

“We've got to make sure that we are hard to beat and hard to score against. I don't think it was a 3-0, but obviously the scoreline says that.”

Logan Dobbs was handed a start in defence while Sully Booth came off the bench along with summer signings Conor McManus and Sheldon Kendall.

Ainsworth knows they will benefit from the experience in the long term.

“I want everyone to understand that this is all a process,” said Ainsworth.

“I'm giving Sully Booth, Conor McManus and Sheldon Kendall these minutes and Zane Albarus and Logan Dobbs as well.

“For some it’s their actual first-team debuts because the EFL Trophy is looked upon sometimes as this little also-ran cup for the bottom two divisions so you change your tema up for that.

“But