Midfielder Dean Parrett is looking to book Gillingham’s place in the Third Round of the FA Cup this weekend as he’s some unfinished business with the competition.

Not only did Parrett join his former club AFC Wimbledon the season after they met Liverpool in the great old competition, but last season he missed out on a trip to the National Stadium.

Talking to KSN this week, Parrett said, “We played Tottenham last year, but I missed out as I had a groin operation last season.”

“They did well though against them at Wembley. When I was with Stevenage a few seasons before we played Everton at home and played at Sutton with Wimbledon last year. So, you can say that I’ve had the ups and the downs of the competition – it’s the beauty of the FA Cup, you can play teams lower or you can play teams higher and we want to get the job done to get into Round Three and the buzz it brings…”

Turning to the game ahead and Parrett was in no doubt of the task facing the Gills on Sunday afternoon.

“We’ve got to give them the respect they deserve and make sure that we’re ready for them,” Parrett said.

“We won’t look past the next game until after Sunday about possibly being in Round Three as that would be greatly unfair to them – they deserve to be at this stage of the competition and we’ve got to be at our best to get into the next hat.”

“It was the same when we went two down at Hartlepool – they forced us to dig really deep and that’s something that we must all do again on Sunday!”

“Whatever game you go into, you have to be switched on – maybe subconsciously some will go into some games thinking that this is going to be an “easy” one and that’s where you see the upsets coming from and highlights how we’ve got to be switched on. However, we do it – whether it’s a last-minute winner or we win 3-0 – we must get the job done.”

“Every player – especially when you play in the lower leagues, wants to get into the Third Round and draw a top team and go and play in a top stadium and go and show people what you can do against top players and I’m guessing that Slough will be thinking that of us as we’re a League One side and can they show what they can do against us, which is another reason why we have to be right on it!”

“We want to try and build a little run going with back to back wins, but the feeling is upbeat – it was a great win in midweek and so we’ve just got to carry on.”

“Been a frustrating start to the season for me what with hamstring and now a dead leg injury, but I’m hopeful that I can now stay fit and get some good match fitness under my belt and show the Gills fans what I can really do!”