Gillingham's right-back Stuart Lewis says he and his team-mates have nothing to lose against Aston Villa in the FA Cup.

The odds are firmly stacked against the Coca-Cola League Two promotion hopefuls when they host the Barclays Premier League outfit, but Lewis refuses to believe there is no chance of a major upset.

Midfielder Lewis is almost certain to get his chance to feature at Priestfield in an unfamiliar defensive role as regular right-back - and team captain - Barry Fuller completes a three-match ban after being sent off against Brentford last month.

Experienced midfielder Nicky Southall would be the only other real option available to manager Mark Stimson at right-back, but he is cup-tied having featured in the competition for Dover in a loan spell earlier this season.

And Lewis, 21, is determined to grasp his opportunity and perhaps help his team to what could be one of the results of the weekend.

He said: "We just want to enjoy the day. It's a massive match, it's a big occasion for us players and we`ve got nothing to lose.

"You go out there and do your best and we've got nothing to lose from it so I think it's all positive thoughts in the camp.

"It's 11 against 11 and things have happened in the FA Cup before over the years where you`d never believe that certain teams have beaten other sides.

"With the team we've got and the players we've got, I can see no reason why we couldn't cause an upset."

A sell-out crowd in excess of 11,000 - more than twice the club`s average attendance this season - will cram into the Priestfield and Lewis is banking on the home fans to inspire the players.

"I think it will be a brilliant occasion, with a full house as well it should be even louder," Lewis added.

Former Gills boss Peter Taylor also thinks the crowd will have a big part to play - and he too believes an upset is not out of the equation.

Taylor was in charge in the 1999/2000 season and guided the then Division Two side to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, beating top-flight sides Bradford and Sheffield Wednesday along the way.

And Taylor said: "The year I had here we had Bradford and Sheffield Wednesday in the cup and it was fantastic.

"Aston Villa are one of the best teams in the Premier League, they're probably the most exciting team at the minute but I'm sure that Gillingham will still make it an uncomfortable afternoon for them.

"You can imagine that Gillingham will be preparing with absolutely nothing to lose where Aston Villa, there'll be a lot of the players will be thinking 'Blimey, this could be a banana skin so sometimes that doesn't help their preparation."