Gillingham team news ahead of match with Mansfield Town at Priestfield | Manager Neil Harris with updates of George Lapslie, Tim Dieng, Oli Hawkins, Dom Jefferies and Lewis Walker

Gillingham must weigh up the “risk and reward” of playing George Lapslie against his former team this Saturday.

Attacking-midfielder Lapslie missed last weekend’s game at Doncaster with a hamstring injury and is a doubt for the visit of Mansfield, a club he played over 100 games for before moving to the Gills.

Lapslie lasted just 25 minutes against Morecambe the previous week, scoring the first and having a hand in the second goal, before going off injured. An early withdrawal ensured no long-term damage but now the club must decide if he’s fit enough to be risked against Mansfield.

Manager Neil Harris said: “He is desperate to play, but with a hamstring you have to make sure you get the risk and reward right, it is a real tough one, the same with Dom (Jefferies).

“As much as they are really important players we can’t afford to take risks and lose them for months, that would be a real shame.

“We have to make sensible decisions and that is not just down to me, that’s the medical staff and support staff and players as well, we will have to see what the next 48 hours hold.”

Jefferies could be a step closer to a return as he got 45 minutes in a midweek friendly with Dartford but is another who is recovering from time out with a hamstring strain. He’s missed the last five league games.

Harris said: “He trained Monday to be able to play some minutes on Tuesday night and he is a lot healthier, he is further down the line (to recovery).

“Dom is an athlete, a sprinter, it’s a hamstring injury so we do have to be really mindful of that, as the medical people keep reminding me.

“We have missed Dom Jefferies in the group, either from the start or off the bench, the impact that he gives us is vital.

“There might be an element of