Gillingham travel to AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup first round days after their League 2 meeting

Gillingham get a second bite at AFC Wimbledon tonight but manager Neil Harris won’t be taking any gambles.

Just nine days after the sides met on the opening day of the League 2 season at Plough Lane they lock horns again, this time for a place in round two of the Carabao Cup.

Victory could earn the Gills a match against one of the 13 Premier League sides not competing in European competitions this season but Harris knows his first priority is the league and a trip to Tranmere on Saturday.

Looking ahead to the game, Harris said: “I would love to do well in the Carabao Cup and we will try and win the game but my thinking is trying to manage the players that we can manage, changes to the team definitely, some players that haven’t featured will get an opportunity.

“We will have to pick an approach that we go to Wimbledon with and a shape and a formation and personnel we will have to see who is available.”

With no new players signed by Monday lunchtime there won’t be an opportunity to add any more faces to the group before tonight’s match.

Midfield pair Dom Jefferies and Stuart O’Keefe are both rated as doubtful while striker Joe Gbode could make a return after missing the weekend with concussion.

“There will be changes to the team,” Harris confirmed. With only a small squad he can’t make wholesale changes but could call upon the likes of Alex MacDonald, Bailey Akehurst, David Tutonda and former Wimbledon defender Cheye Alexander to relieve some of his senior men and give them extra minutes.

Newly signed striker Lewis Walker could make his first start.

“I want us to be competitive,” Harris continued. “I want us to get through, let’s be honest it is not a competition we are going to win so I have to protect players early in