Lincoln v Gillingham

Gillingham boss Mark Stimson is hoping Simeon Jackson wins his fitness battle ahead of tonight's crunch game at Lincoln.

The seven-goal striker has missed Gillingham’s last two matches with an ankle injury he sustained while scoring the late equaliser at Bradford a fortnight ago.

Jackson is a key ingredient to manager Mark Stimson’s promotion plans and his firepower will be much needed as Gillingham head to one of the division’s form teams.

Lincoln, who have ex-Gill Iffy Onuora as their assistant manager, are unbeaten in their last seven league matches.

Also returning will be captain Barry Fuller after he completed a one-game ban.

"It would be great to have both available for the game as they’ve been top players for us," said Stimson.

"On Saturday (Simeon) was touch and go but I would be surprised if he wasn’t available for Tuesday. We don’t want to rush him back for one game and then for him to go missing three of four.

"Hopefully with treatment and rest he’ll be available and if he is then that will be a welcome addition to the team.

"What we’ll have to do at Lincoln is be very strong at set pieces because they’ve got a good delivery and have some big players.

"We’ll have to make sure we do that properly.

"There is a good pitch there and if we can play some decent football and pop it around then we should be causing problems. But they are in good form and it should make for a nice evening in Lincoln.

"At the start of the season the types of players who Lincoln were bringing to the club are good players at this level and they’ll test us. It’s a matter of us going there, sticking to our game plan and hopefully getting something from the game."

Stimson admits the recent absence of Jackson, Fuller and the suspended Mark Bentley has made his life a lot tougher.

"We’ve taken three players out of our team who have been big players for us this season," he added. "When you take that out it’s going to disrupt you, but we’ve still got the belief that we should take games to teams like Chester and boss the game more.

"Sometimes it doesn’t happen. What we have this year is a bit more togetherness and if it means blocking the ball to stop it going in the net like Simon King and Garry Richards did, then we’ve got players who will do that."

Listen to Gills manager Mark Stimson talking about Simeon Jackson's chances of playing and what to expect against Lincoln