Ollie Wright is anticipating a tough and physical game as Barrow travel to ME7 for the Emirates FA Cup first round on Saturday.
The goalkeeper touched on 'The Bluebirds' recent run of results, and knows how important it will be for the Gills to win their battles across the pitch.
Wright has vast FA Cup experience, playing many times throughout the qualifying stages, so he appreciates how important first round day can be for many clubs. However, he admitted that his aspirations for this season are to reach the third round, with the allure of some of the country's biggest clubs entering the competition. Despite that, he knows that the team have to do a professional job if they are to get there, starting with the difficult game against Barrow.
The Southampton loanee also discussed the Club's goalkeeping union and his relationship with Rohan Luthra, as the pair look to push each other to improve daily.
On Saturday's fixture and being drawn at home...
This is going to be a really tough game at the weekend. They are really physical and dominant. They have done well in the last five games, so going into it, they are going to be right up for it. Especially with how far they have to travel as well. We just need to be on it, win our battles and be professional.
His experiences of the FA Cup...
Obviously, coming through non-league, it was massive. Playing in the National League South and even the National League, drawing a league team was massive. This year I really want to at least get to the third round and try and get a big team, especially away, which would be brilliant.
I was at Bath City at the time, and it was the qualifying rounds, and we were playing a team called Larkhall that was basically a local derby. I remember turning up on the day, and I was still really young and new to men's football, and that was a sell-out. Going to there and seeing how much it means to everyone with the money as well as you go through each round. It is massive.
Aspirations for this year's FA Cup campaign...
I want to play a big team in front of thousands of people on TV. That's the FA Cup. I have experienced the other side of it with the non-league teams and the tough sides. Now, I want to advance through the rounds.
Working with Rohan Luthra in the goalkeeping room...
He has been really good. He is pushing me, and we are pushing each other every day in training. We have got a really good relationship as well, and he has been brilliant since he came through the door.
It is all about having that healthy relationship with each other, and pushing each other. I think that it is so important- pushing each other every day in training. It makes you that 1% better every day, so it has been really good since he came through the door.
