GILLINGHAM must break a 10-year jinx at Walsall on Saturday if they are to achieve player-manager Andy Hessenthaler’s goal of reaching 60 points for the season.

Gillingham's Easter, in which they can heavily influence the Nationwide League, Division 1 relegation issue, starts at the Bescot Stadium where they last won in the league in February, 1992 thanks to Mark Dempsey's only goal of the game. Since then the ground has become synonymous with failure for the club.

In January 1999, their cherished 17-match unbeaten league record came to an end with a 2-1 defeat as the Saddlers completed a home and away win double. Although the club did manage a 1-1 draw in an FA Cup, third round, tie on December 11, 1999.

Walsall will want the jinx in full working order on Saturday, knowing the clock is against them if they are to avoid an immediate return to Division 2 following last season’s promotion. The match will be the first of two in three days which finds Gillingham cast in the role of potential heart-breakers as Walsall, and then Crewe, who visit Priestfield on Monday, scrap for survival points.

“We are going to play a big part in who goes up and down and will have a say in the relegation and play-off situations,” said Hessenthaler.Both Walsall and Crewe are fighting for their lives and then we play Burnley and Manchester City who are in the promotion frame."

Although Iffy Onuora is available following his mother's funeral in Nigeria, the Gills boss is likely to stick with the side that started against Millwall on Sunday.

Hessenthaler is unlikely to risk midfielder Simon Osborn who has not played since suffering a recurrence of an old Achilles problem in the 2-0 defeat at Wolves on March 2. Osborn would love to have played on Saturday against Walsall who are managed by Colin Lee, whom he played under at Reading and Wolves.