Gillingham manager Mark Stimson is facing a defensive crisis ahead of their clash with promotion-chasing Leeds United at Priestfield.

Garry Richards, who limped off with a broken toe in last week's 4-0 defeat at Millwall, has been ruled out for the rest of the season, while long-term absentee Simon King continues to be out.

Fellow centre-back Darren Dennehy is also out meaning Stimson may have to look for a replacement in the Gills' youth set-up or play someone out of position.

"We are desperate and down to our bare bones but we won't be sulking over it," Stimson told BBC Radio Kent. "We are down to looking at the Connor Essams and the young Callam Davis in the reserve team game at Aldershot to see if they're available to go on the bench.

"We will call Jacob Erskine back if his days are up at his loan spell at Croydon because I know the last couple of games he's played centre-half there.

"We've also got Tom Wynter, (midfielder) Mark Bentley and even (striker) Dennis Oli, who has been known to play at centre-half."