Gillingham’s big day in front of the cameras on Saturday isn’t the focus for manager Neil Harris.

While the Gills prepare for their sold-out FA Cup Third Round match against Leicester City at Priestfield (12.30pm) - broadcast live to the nation on BBC One - Harris is plotting ahead for some crucial league fixtures and the second half of their League 2 campaign.

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It’s a fight for survival and one of the most important periods in the club’s history as they look to stave off relegation out of the Football League, a status they have held since 1950.

Gillingham - rock bottom of League 2 and without a league win in their last 12 games - return to domestic action next Saturday, at home to fellow strugglers Hartlepool United. A week later they face another team in relegation danger, Colchester United.

Harris said: “The FA Cup game against Leicester is a game for people to enjoy, a sold-out Priestfield, underdog status, bottom of the Football League against a Premier League giant.

“It is an opportunity for the players to enjoy it but my focus has to be on Hartlepool, getting players in the building and adding them to the group.”

The Gills boss is a big fan of the FA Cup - having played in the 2004 Final against Manchester United - but knows the importance of the league games ahead.

He said: “I respect the competition and love the FA Cup. We have had two tough non-league opponents [in the first two rounds] that wanted to cause an upset, we have held in there and beaten them over the two games and deserve the right to play Leicester at home in a sold-out stadium. Fans get to come and see world-class players but we are not going to win the FA Cup! My focus has to be for Hartlepool.”

Gillingham are five points from safety but can reduce that gap with a win over third from bottom Hartlepool. Harris’ side emerged from their three festive fixtures empty-handed, losing to Colchester, Sutton and Stevenage, scoring just once.

It was a blow to Harris, who could take little comfort from the fact all the games were close.

“I have gone past the stage of that,” he said. “I am just interested in results.

“It is difficult, confidence-wise it drains out of you, constantly trying to pick them up, and then even before games trying to rally them before going on the pitch, trying to get in their heads to get us going.

“Once they are on the pitch you can affect it by subs and formations but it is down to them. I went with a really experienced team [at Stevenage], a hell of a lot of games on the football pitch, we have not gone with kids but we just keep falling the wrong side of a goal.”

Harris hasn’t lost his desire to turn things around at Priestfield, boosted by new owner Brad Galinson and his much-needed investment.

“Nothing changes for me,” he said. “You get frustrated with losing games of football, it wears away at you.

“It’s disappointing and I just want us to be better. I just need to see light at the end of the tunnel that we are going to improve quickly.

“It is clear for us to have any chance of closing that gap then we need people in the building - then I am confident.

“We need character and leadership and also quality players.”