Gillingham v Mansfield Town preview | Manager Neil Harris looks ahead to challenge against Nigel Clough's unbeaten Stags

Gillingham boss Neil Harris believes their weekend game will give them a fair indication of how far they’ve progressed.

Harris’ side lost 2-0 to the Stags the last time they met, in February, but feels they’re now better equipped following a summer transfer window where more quality has been added.

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The Gills start the day second in the League 2 table, a point and a place better off than Nigel Clough’s unbeaten Mansfield.

Harris said: “We fell short against them last year, Mansfield away was a real good benchmark for us. We were a new group and it was an eye-opener for us.

“We got better and better after that game. This is a really good marker for us now, for where we’re at, against a side who are doing really well.

“They are a really good side, a team that has been built over a few seasons, various transfer windows, a big squad, a good squad of players, a lot of experience at this level and above.

“(They are) hard to play against, extremely athletic and aggressive, fast and with a natural ability to score goals. They will definitely be right up there at the top of the league this year.

“Mansfield have some pedigree, they have some qualities, and I look at our squad, I really like our squad, really proud of it, but then I look at others still a bit envious to the personnel they have, numbers-wise as well, so it just shows our aspirations of where we are at and where we want to get to. There are still a few clubs which are a couple of transfer windows infront of us.

“We played them last year, home and away, it was extremely difficult for us and we fell just short in both games. We are in a much better position to challenge them now and for me, any team that finishes