ROB PAGE heads into tomorrow’s match at Gillingham hoping for double success.

The former Welsh international centre-back will be focused on helping Town keep another clean sheet and chalk up another victory in their push for a League I play-off place.

But as soon as business is over at Priestfield, the man from the rugby-mad Rhondda Valley will be checking up on his country’s Six Nations scoreline.

Wales go into their game against Italy at the Millennium Stadium, where kick-off is also 3.00, aiming to maintain their place alongside France at the top of the championship table with a third win in as many games.

In Kent, Town, 13th before tonight’s two League I matches (Hartlepool v Northampton and Swansea v Luton) aim for a sixth clean sheet and victory in eight games since Page’s arrival on a free transfer from Coventry.

The 33-year-old was born and bred in Llwynypia, near Tonypandy, and played both football and rugby as a child.

The round-ball game won the day thanks to Keith Cooper, the former top referee from Pontypridd.

He took note of Page’s bright performances in junior football and alerted Tom Whalley, a friend who was on the staff at Watford.

Page signed on with the Vicarage Road club at 11, going on to make 252 first-team appearances between 1993 and 2001 and helping them win promotion to the Premier League in 1999.

“Football became my main focus, and a lot of school holidays were spent in Watford, but I still played a bit of rugby and went to watch the national team as often as I could,” explained the 42-times capped star who later played for Sheffield United and Cardiff as well as Coventry.

“There was a great atmosphere at the old Arms Park, and the Millennium Stadium is a pretty good place to be both for football and rugby internationals as well.

“Football is obviously my first priority, but I still follow the rugby, and like any Welshman, I’d love to see us win the Six Nations this year.”

Page would also love to see Town in the top six come the end of the season, and while he hadn’t been signed when Town tumbled 3-1 to the Gills at the Galpharm in January, he’ll still be keen to help them take revenge tomorrow.

The two clubs’ records since Gary Mulligan (2) and Town old boy Delroy Facey sealed victory for Mark Stimson’s side (Chris Brandon had put Andy Ritchie’s men ahead) could hardly be in greater contrast.

While Town have won five (the latest 1-0 against Millwall on Tuesday) and drawn one out of eight, Gillingham have drawn two and lost the other five of their seven outings, slipping to fourth from bottom.

Former Stevenage boss Stimson, who took over in November, has rung the changes to the extent that of the 11 who started at the Galpharm, only five (keeper Simon Royce, centre-back Simon King, left-back John Nutter and midfielders Mark Bentley and Andrew Crofts) are in tomorrow’s predicted line-up.

Experienced Danny Cullip, newly signed from QPR, is set to make his Gills debut in central defence (see story right).

Gillingham (probable): Royce; Fuller, King, Cullip, Nutter; Bentley, Crofts, Thurgood, Oli, Miller, Jackson. Subs (from): Bygrave, Mulligan, Southall, Lewis, Stillie, Griffiths, Richards.

Town (from): Glennon, Sinclair, Williams, Clarke, Page, Collins, Brandon, Holdsworth, Worthington, Brandon, Schofield, Berrett, Beckett, Booth, Jevons, Mirfin, Skarz, Eastwood.

Referee: Steven Cook (Surrey).