BARROW AFC boss Pete Wild says his side need to be ready for a battle this weekend.

The Bluebirds manager knows they face a tough task against Gillingham, a side he holds in high regard.

But there’s no fear factor for Wild, and he wants his team to show what they are all about at Holker Street tomorrow.

He said: “We are obviously at home, and we have put pressure on ourselves to do well at home, so we really want to take it to Gillingham because we are the home team.

“It is really important that we go toe to toe with them.

“It’s really important we show how far we have come and see where that takes us.”

Wild knows his team will have to be at the best against Stephen Clemence’s side.

Just six points currently separate the two sides in the League Two table with the Bluebirds third on 37 points and the Gills on 31 in seventh place.

Wild sees tomorrow’s opposition as a side who will be fighting it out near the top when it comes to the business end of the season.

And he knows they are not a team to be taken lightly.

He added: “Gillingham for me, are one of the strongest squads in the league.

“I think the recruitment they did in the summer, they brought in some unbelievable players for the level, and their strength in depth, looking at their bench it is fantastic, it is full of solid League One and League Two players.

“Like I say, for me in terms of strength in depth they are one of the strongest in the league, and I think they are going to be right up there at the end of the season.

“With the money Gillingham have invested I would say they are one of the best teams in the league.”

While there can be no arguments that the Kent side present another tough test for Wild’s men, it should be noted that the Bluebirds are where they are on merit.

Having won their last five league games on the bounce, Barrow are in a rich vein of form in League Two.

And Wild says it us up to them to try to keep that run going.

“We don’t get ahead of ourselves, we take one game at a time,” he said.

“But this is another test for us and one which the lads will be up for.

“It is a chance for us to show where we are at, and to see where we can go.

“We are at home, and that means we want to be on the front foot and show just what we are about.”