Gillingham have teed up an intriguing Friday-night clash where victory would see them leapfrog hosts Notts County into the League 2 play-off places.
The Gills were held last Saturday at home to Walsall, which cost them the chance to already be in the top seven.
Head coach Stephen Clemence knows they must find more consistency to get themselves among the leading contenders.
Disappointing performances at home to Forest Green and Walsall – which both ended 1-1 – came either side of a better performance at MK Dons that still finished up in a 2-1 defeat.
Clemence said: “We are a point closer to seventh spot (after the Walsall draw) and we play seventh spot this week so it is set up nicely for that one.
“We have to get better, we have to play better on a more consistent basis.
“First half (last Saturday) we weren’t up to standards.
“In the second half, we got better and better as the game went on but we have to bring that from the start.
“The first-half performance was way down from what it had been the previous week (at MK Dons). Myself and Robbie (Stockdale, assistant boss) will feed back to the boys but there will definitely be plenty of stuff that we can look to improve on.
“As a footballer, you can’t play well all of the time but we didn’t get beaten, we move on to the next game and try to win that one. You have to react.”
Notts County are the division’s entertainers, with 61 goals scored and 54 conceded, with the club looking for a second straight promotion following a step up from the National League last season as runners-up to Wrexham.
Both sides amassed more than 100 points with over 100 goals each.
In contrast, the Gills have managed just 26 goals this season from 29 games and Clemence will be hoping his new additions can give them a fighting chance of making that top seven.
He said: “I was happy with where I am at the end of the (transfer window) and I think I have got some good players at the football club and that was the aim, so I am happy with that. We have improved the squad.
“We had to freshen things up, that’s what we’ve done and we have brought in players of a good pedigree. I am looking forward to working with them between now and the end of the season.”
Sky Bet League 2 table
With County’s city rivals Nottingham Forest playing Newcastle United in the Premier League at home on Saturday evening, it’s meant a switch to a Friday for this week’s clash.
Clemence said: “It is a game we should look forward to.
“They are above us in the league, they are in that final play-off spot and we have to go there and try and win and can that take us into those play-off spots?
“We have got 17 games to go, a lot of football still to be played, and a lot of points to play for. We’ll keep going, looking to drive forward and getting better.”
