Gills boss Steve Lovell isn’t taking any notice of league positions ahead of Saturday’s trip to Oxford.

Their weekend opponents sit fourth from bottom in League 1 but Oxford have picked up of late, going on a six-game unbeaten run.

Gillingham are picking up some form too, winning two of their last four in the league.

“It doesn’t matter where they are (in the table),” said Lovell.

“Oxford is always a tough place to go anyway and I think they are in a false position down there. It is a big club, Oxford, he (manager Karl Robinson) has some good players there and I am sure Karl will get the team up that table as quick as he can.

“We have to make sure we give them a tough game and get something out of it.”

Lovell isn’t surprised they have run into a team on form.

“It was the same when we played Portsmouth, Sunderland, Peterborough and Fleetwood,” he said.

“But we are on a decent run now, we have just got to keep it going. Including Tuesday (beating Crawley in the Checkatrade Trophy) we have won three out of five, one defeat and only two goals against us, so it is good, that is what we have to build on, that positive side of it.”

Lovell will be without striker Josh Parker this weekend, as he is on international duty with Antigua and Barbuda. Midfielder Callum Reilly is the only injury doubt although both players are expected to be challenging for a place in the squad for the FA Cup trip to Hartlepool on Wednesday.