Bradley Garmston starts for Gillingham at Peterborough.

It’s a first appearance of the season for the left-sided defender, who has been missing since the summer with a calf injury.

Gabriel Zakuani returns to central defence, following international duty, with Ben Nugent missing after suffering a foot injury last weekend.

Mark Byrne is also back, following suspension. Elliott List, one of four changes, makes only his second league start. Conor Wilkinson, Connor Ogilvie and Finn O’Mara all drop out of the XI.

Peterborough: Bond, Shephard, Hughes, Baldwin, Edwards, Forrester, Taylor, Grant, Maddison, Marriott, Miller. Subs: O’Malley, Tafazolli, Lloyd, Lopes, Kanu, Anderson, Penfold.

Gillingham: Holy, Byrne, Garmston, Zakuani, Ehmer, Hessenthaler, Bingham, Martin, Clare, Parker, List. Subs: Nelson, Wagstaff, Wilkinson, Ogilvie, Oldaker, Cundle, O’Mara.

Preview

Gillingham head to Peterborough this Saturday with their third manager of the season at the helm.

Steve Lovell has been entrusted with overseeing this weekend's clash following Peter Taylor's shock resignation on Thursday.

Lovell insists it will be his team and his tactics on Saturday, casting aside any pre-match planning done by Taylor.

Head to head;

Gills wins 13, draws 19, Peterborough wins 14

League form;

Gillingham (23): Portsmouth L 0-1 (H), Blackburn L 0-1 (A), Scunthorpe D 0-0 (H), Rochdale L 0-3 (A), Charlton W 1-0 (H), AFC Wimbledon D 1-1 (A).

Peterborough (5th): Oxford L 1-4 (H), Oldham L 2-3 (A), Wigan W 3-2 (H), Walsall D 1-1 (A), MK Dons W 2-0 (H), Bradford L 1-3 (H).

Stat Attack

Click here for appearances, goals, discipline, ratings and profiles

The last meeting at the ABAX Stadium;

Peterborough 1 Gillingham 1

Baily Cargill volleyed in a stoppage-time equaliser for Gillingham at Peterborough on Boxing Day last season.

An entertaining first half at the ABAX Stadium failed to produce a goal.

Finishing from both sides was off the mark and that continued in the second half, until Lee Angol put Peterborough ahead after 78 minutes.

Then a spectacular finish from Cargill beat keeper Luke McGee to level the scores.

Man in the middle – Dean Whitestone

Games refereed this season: 12 (28 yellows / 1 reds)

The Northamptonshire official took charge of Gillingham's opening game of the season, a goalless draw against Doncaster. Striker Tom Eaves was the only players to be cautioned that day.

Last season he was in charge at Priestfield when the Gills beat Southend 2-1. Opposition manager Phil Brown was left furious at the official after sending defender Ryan Inniss off and awarding Gills a "soft" penalty.

Whitestone was the referee during Ady Pennock's first game in charge, at Oldham. The Gills lost 1-0.

Assistants: Craig Taylor and Andrew Williams. Fourth official: Amy Fearn

One to watch – Jack Marriott

Peterborough’s front-line will be familiar to the Gills on Saturday.

Summer target Ricky Miller and one-time loanee Jack Marriott are both likely to feature for the hosts.

Miller chose to move close to home, following a prolific spell with Dover, but has yet to find the target for his new club.

Marriott, in contrast, has scored nine already, including one in each of his last three league appearances.

He had a brief stint on loan at the Gills, during Peter Taylor’s second spell in charge, but made just the one appearance.

Recently-departed Taylor said: “I was desperate for him to stay but because at that time he wasn’t guaranteed a start, he wanted to go back to Woking (on loan) and play 90 minutes. That shows you he is a good character because he wanted to play football rather than just sit on the bench.

“He is a different player now; he is more the real deal now.”

From the opposition camp;

With back to back defeats in the league, Peterborough manager Grant McCann is determined to get their promotion challenge back on track.

Speaking to the Peterborough Telegraph, he said: "The gap to the top two has grown quickly and obviously we don’t want it to get any bigger.

"Teams have closed up behind us as well so it’s important we get back to winning ways on Saturday.

“We need to get back to what we were doing well at the start of the season and that means organised defence and a good tempo going forward.”

Last time out in the league – Gillingham 0 Portsmouth 1

Gillingham failed to register a shot on target in what turned out to be Peter Taylor's last league game in charge, ending his third spell at the club.

Sean Clare had worthy penalty appeals turned down for the Gills during an opening half that lacked goalmouth action.

Matt Kennedy scored what turned out to be the winning goal, just 26 seconds after the restart for the visitors.

The full-time whistle was greeted by jeers from Gills supporters, many whom had already directed their frustrations at chairman Paul Scally.

Click here for more pictures from Gills' defeat

Gills‘ results and fixtures – 2017/18

Gills team news;

Gills are likely to still be missing Luke O’Neill (hamstring), Alex Lacey (ankle) and Ben Nugent (foot) from the back-line. The latter limped off in Sunday’s defeat to Portsmouth.

Bradley Garmston could be involved for the Gills again this weekend after making an appearance in their midweek Kent Senior Cup clash.

Mark Byrne is back from a hamstring strain and a one-game ban but the Gills are still missing striker Tom Eaves, serving the last of his four-game suspension.

Read more here.

Talking point;

Steve Lovell takes charge this Saturday and he's likely to set the team up a lot differently than the more conservative Peter Taylor.

Taylor left this week after just three league games in charge. He felt his position as director of football was no longer needed, with chairman Paul Scally considering bringing in an experienced coach.

But who will he choose? Steve Evans and Martin Allen remain in the frame but the odds have tumbled on former Crystal Palace caretaker boss Keith Millen taking over. Could Lovell stay on if results improve?

More on the Gills;

Zakuani is friend-turned foe

Fan banned for throwing smoke grenade

Taylor was keen to carry on as interim boss

Lovell: I'll do it my way

The Shouting Men with fit-again Mark Byrne

Fancy a punt?

Peterborough are 1/2 favourites to win Saturday's match, with the Gills a hefty 5/1 to claim just their second win of the season. It's 7/2 the draw.

Gills haven't scored in their last four league games and it's 13/8 for Posh to 'win to nil'.

Ricky Miller is 11/8 to score against the Gills, while you can get 50/1 for Gabriel Zakuani to open the scoring against his former team.

Follow kentonlinegills on twitter for match updates.