A Tuesday night match against Premier League opponents isn’t the focus for Gillingham this week.

The Gills head to Luton Town in the second round of the Carabao Cup but it’s a league game at Grimsby that will be at the forefront of manager Neil Harris’ thinking.

Gillingham’s players will be eager to shake off the 3-0 weekend home loss against Colchester United and winning at Grimsby will be just the tonic. Luton will be a night to enjoy.

Harris said: “(It’s an) absolute free hit for the lads to go and enjoy it, playing against a Premier League opponent, an opportunity for the lads to go and give a good account of themselves, as we did against Southampton, as we did against Brentford and Wolves last year and Leicester at home (in the FA Cup).

“Is it a game we need this week? Probably not, however, I will make changes for the game and freshen the side up and we go to be competitive but the full focus is on Grimsby and getting back to winning ways.”

A trip to Premier League newcomers is Gillingham’s reward for their memorable win over Southampton in the opening round.

Harris added: “It is another opportunity for us to go and challenge, for the players to test themselves and challenge themselves against a Premier League opponent.”

The Gills won at top-flight side Brentford last season and then gave a good account of themselves against Wolves.

Gillingham’s ticket allocation for the match was quickly sold out.

Luton have started their season in the top-flight with defeats at Brighton (4-1) and Chelsea (3-0). Their home game with Burnley was postponed to allow the club extra time to complete extensive redevelopment works at Kenilworth Road, to bring the ground up to Premier League specifications.

The construction of a new stand was needed to meet broadcast and media requirements.

The visit of Gillingham will be the first home game for the Hatters since the works have been completed.

Luton have said that along with work required to make the stadium Premier League complaint, additional improvements have been made in both home and away areas, which chief exec Gary Sweet said “will improve the matchday experience for everyone, particularly for home and away disabled supporters, broadcasters, journalists and supporters in certain areas of the ground.”

On the pitch, Gills boss Harris knows his team will be up against it.

“Luton will be very good,” he said. “I saw Luton a couple of times last year and they were excellent, so much pace and power, set-plays, restarts, they can handle the ball and have ball carriers.

“I saw them against Brighton a couple of weeks ago and they gave a good account of themselves. Brighton were just better. They have some really good players, Premier League players.”