Gillingham kick off their League One season this afternoon as they welcome Hull City to Priestfield Stadium.

The Gills have two wins from two games so far this season after seeing off Southend United and Crawley Town in cup action, but the serious business begins this weekend and it won’t be an easy start for Steve Evans’ side.

The Tigers were competing in Europe as recently as 2014, but have seen themselves fall down the leagues since and were relegated from the Championship last season.

Manager Grant McCann has made it clear his aim to to bounce back up at the first time of asking, but in the immediate future he must focus on the Gills.

New Blues signing Scott Robertson is in line to make his debut in the game after joining on loan from Celtic in the week. The team will, however, be without first choice fullback Ryan Jackson after the 30-year-old picked up a red card against Southend; he will serve his one game suspension here. Former Hull defender Robbie McKenzie is likely to deputise.

The good news is that winger Jordan Graham is fit after missing the Southend game with a groin issue, and defender Zech Medley has recovered from cramp.

For Hull, former Gills fan favourite Tom Eaves will miss the game through injury, but new signing Alfie Jones, who made 37 appearances for Steve Evans’ side last season on loan, could feature.

Also expected to play a part are Josh Magennis and James Scott following international duty. 

The two teams haven’t crossed paths for a massive 35 years – Gillingham winning 1-0 in the old Division Three the last time they met in 1985 – but it will be all to play for when the referee blows that first whistle in ME7 at 3pm on Saturday. 

The game can be watched on iFollow.