Gillingham face Norwich aiming for four out of four

Amid the satisfaction that has spread round Priestfield Stadium following Gillingham's splendid start to the season, chairman Paul Scally has been wrestling with a dilemma. Wins produce win bonuses and that generates additional pressures at a club experiencing the icy blast of financial reality following the collapse of ITV Digital.

On the face of things it seemed an obtuse time for the club to reveal they were seeking savings on the contractual agreements with players who have arguably punched above their weight to hoist the modest Kent club to the top of the First Division table, with nine points from three games and no goals conceded. Scally will present the first-team squad with a set of proposals next week aimed at saving £700,000 and, should they make it four wins out of four this afternoon at second-placed Norwich, player-manager Andy Hessenthaler will be assured that money is not the prime motivating force for his players.

They have already given Wimbledon, Derby and Millwall the taste of defeat and perhaps other clubs need to look closely at the training methods Hessenthaler employs in pre-season. Twelve months ago it all started in a similar fashion.

"Being top of the table is a nice position to be in but it does not mean we will be taking our opponents lightly," he said, fully aware that it quickly went pear-shaped last year. "Norwich are a very good side and have some good players. They did the double over us last year so we owe them one."

The Carrow Road fixture in March was the launch pad for Norwich's run to the play-off final and their second leg semi-final defeat at Wolves remains their only loss in 13 games. Confidence is sky-high and manager Nigel Worthington is not at all surprised that they have started so well.

He will instruct his players today to take close order with the visiting strikers. Guy Ipoua scored in the single-goal defeats of Wimbledon and Millwall while Mamady Sidibé was called up in midweek to train with the Mali national side.

Just two weeks ago the pair might have been assuming they were destined to play a shadow role this season with summer signings Tommy Johnson and Rod Wallace as the more experienced front line. Injuries and a rethink gave Ipoua and Sidibé their chance. The Cameroon-born Ipoua commented: "We speak the same language and come from the same French system so we play the same style of football. It is thanks to Big Mama that I have scored two goals."