Shrewsbury Town have 'a team full of men'

For the first time tomorrow, Mellon is able to call on three big guns - captain Nathaniel Knight-Percival, James Wesolowski and James Wallace - for the trip to Gillingham.

Knight-Percival and Wesolowski returned to the starting line-up in Tuesday's 2-1 home defeat to Sheffield United from suspension and long-term injury respectively, while Wallace was ineligible to play against his parent club.

Mellon said: "We've got real men you need at this stage, guys who will go into that arena and be prepared to take it head on.

"They're good people to have. You always want those influences when the games are coming to the final furlong.

"It's massively important they're available and playing well. Mentality's the important thing and you wouldn't question any of our guys.

"You need that focus on your game, to keep a cool head and embrace the different atmospheres at this time because when you're playing for something, the games are full of energy.

"The crowd are a bit more hysterical but we'll embrace that and use it to our benefit."

Town will try to extend the two-point gap to the drop zone against their fifth successive opponent in or around the top six.

Mellon said: "It's been like that for a few weeks. We've had lots of tough games but we haven't whinged."