Stuart O’Keefe is a doubt ahead of Gillingham’s FA Cup clash with Cheltenham Town and Steve Evans could be down to the bare bones for the game that may struggle to inspire fans to attend.

Despite an offer of £10 for adults, £5 for concessions and Under 12s going free, there may be a lower attendance than the 3,609 that went to Priestfield for the 0-0 draw against Accrington Stanley in League One last weekend.

O’Keefe limped off after 62 minutes during the Accrington game and a decision on his availability could be made at the last minute, but a hamstring injury usually takes a number of weeks to overcome.

Meanwhile, midfielder Olly Lee is also expected to miss out for the next six weeks with a broken toe.

Daniel Phillips and David Tutonda are both expected to be out of action until Christmas and that leaves manager Steve Evans with little options in which to choose from.

With Charlie Kelman having returned to parent club QPR despite his loan deal running until January, Gillingham are desperately running out of options from the bench.

The Gills boss may in fact be forced to go into the game with less than 18 players.

Cheltenham manager Michael Duff said that Mattie Pollock still has a chance to be involved against Gillingham.

The defender was taken off in the second half of the Robins’ 1-1 draw with Portsmouth with a dead leg.

Duff also revealed that loanees Christian Norton and Kyle Joseph are available after permission was granted by their parent clubs to use them.

Cheltenham are still without long-term absentees Will Boyle (ankle), Taylor Perry (hip) and Callum Wright (knee).

With an ever growing number of Gillingham fans having stated their intention to boycott home games in a dispute with Chairman Paul Scally and some having been issued with bans from attending by the club, the stand off feels like it’s creating growing tension at Priestfield.

Progressing in the FA Cup could undoubtedly swell the coffers at the club and give a much needed boost to the team as they then turn their attention back to the League One campaign.

Win on Saturday and fans will live in hope of making the way through to the Third Round and a tie potentially against Premier League opposition.

Defeat and it could be yet another disastrous FA Cup 1st Round exit to stand alongside the many that have gone before.

Kick off has been pulled forward to 2pm on Saturday, much to the ire of many fans after the decision was only made on Monday, after some had made travel plans.