ROVERS boss Tony Mowbray wants his side to impose themselves on Gillingham as they look to keep their promotion push on track.

Steve Lovell’s side have not lost a league game on home turf since October 21 but Rovers are keen for three points to at least maintain their five-point advantage at the top of the table.

With second placed Wigan in FA Cup action and Shrewsbury facing a tricky test on the road at fifth-place Scunthorpe, Mowbray is keen to avoid any slip-ups on the south coast.

And the Ewood boss, while wary of the Gills’ threat, is confident his side can make it eight games unbeaten.

He said: “Gillingham are on a good run of form, they have got some good players, they put the ball in your box, they play forward and they compete all over the pitch.

“I am sure we will get a difficult game but one that we can impose ourselves on and get the points.”

The Gills still harbour outside play-off hopes of their own and begin the weekend in 11th, seven points off the top six.

And Mowbray is wary of the challenge posed by a 265-mile journey to Priestfield for players and supporters.

He added: “I think when you go to Gillingham it is one of those places that is an outpost, it is difficult to get to and when you do get there they make you aware that you have to earn any result you are going to get and you have to work extremely hard.

“I am expecting a difficult test but one that we should be relishing in the position that we are in.

“We have to have the confidence and belief that we are in decent form ourselves and go and get a victory.

“Their form has been relatively good.

“I think not last month but the month before their manager got manager of the month which suggests they won a lot of football matches.

“I think their form at home has been pretty good so I see this as a real big test.”