Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler will have to make changes for Saturday’s trip to Bournemouth in the First Round of the FA Cup.

With strikers Jo Kuffour and Frank Nouble both unable to play in the game as their parent clubs don’t want them to get cup-tied, Hessenthaler will have to look to shuffle his pack against the League One side.

Saturday should see a new shape for The Gills as they revert back to the 4-5-1 formation that served them so well at the start of the season with Danny Kedwell likely to plough a lone furrow up front.

That will mean a five man midfield for the visitors with Curtis Weston, Lewis Montrose, Luke Rooney and Jack Payne all fighting it out for a starting berth alongside Chris Whelpdale, Charlie Lee and Danny Jackman.

Garry Richards will miss the game after limping off in Saturday’s game against Northampton Town with a hamstring injury with Simon King likely to replace him in the squad, however he will probably have to make do with a place on the bench.

Matt Fish could well claim his place at right back following Richards’ injury with Matt Lawrence expected to partner Andy Frampton in the heart of defence.

Paulo Gazzaniga will start in goal for The Gills with regular keeper Ross Flitney failing a fitness test. Gazzaniga will be making only his second start for Gillingham after making his debut in the JPT loss to Barnet earlier this season.

With Daren Hawkes cup-tied having played for Ramsgate earlier in the competition, Hessenthaler may place youngster Ashley Bourne on the bench.

Andy Hessenthaler can name seven substitutes for the FA Cup so will have plenty of options in which to choose from as he sets his side up.

The Gills could line up something like this:

Gazzaniga, Fish, Lawrence, Frampton, Martin, Whelpdale, Lee, Montrose, Jackman, Rooney, Kedwell.

Subs: Bourne, King, Essam, Weston, J Payne, Oli, S Payne.

Whoever does get the chance to play, Gillingham will be desperate for a good cup run with the bigger clubs coming in at the Third Round stage and it has been shown in recent seasons, a good run in the cup can lift spirits around Priestfield along with bringing in some much needed funds for Hessenthaler.

The loss to Dover Athletic in the First Round last year will still be talked about amongst some of the players and they will want to show that the greatest cup in the world does mean something to them.

Both Ross Flitney and Matt Fish were part of that Dover side that day at Priestfield and will be keen to impress on their new team-mates what is needed to pull off a cup shock.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth manager Lee Bradbury will have to re-jig his squad for the visit of The Gills.

Bradbury will be missing attacking midfielder Wes Fogden, who is cup-tied after playing in the competition for non-league Havant & Waterlooville earlier in the campaign, while Charlie Sheringham is also ineligible after featuring for Dartford in the preliminary rounds.

On-loan defender Steve Cook has been barred from playing by parent club Brighton, while Ipswich have not given permission for full-back Jaime Peters to take part in the tie. However, centre-back Stephane Zubar is fit and could slot into the heart of defence, while forward Wes Thomas returns to the matchday squad after being cup-tied for the 6-0 midweek thrashing by Brentford in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

Midfielder Shaun Cooper resumed light running in training this week but will not be fit enough to take part and Shaun McDonald continues his recuperation from a fractured toe.

New defensive signing Simon Francis is in line for a debut after sitting on the bench at Griffin Park on Tuesday but midfielder Steven Gregory remains sidelined with a groin problem.

Bradbury is likely to call on members of the Cherries’ youth-team set-up to be among the substitutes for the fixture. Josh Carmichael and Elliot Ward have both been involved in the first team this term and could be handed a chance at the Seward Stadium this weekend.