Harris fears his number is up at The Den

The player-manager does not see the former non-League player as a first-choice goalscorer and has not offered him a new deal.

Come the New Year Harris will be free to talk to other clubs and the end of an era will move a step closer.

"I will have to face up to reality maybe when that sort of time comes around," said Harris.

"At the moment I am not really doing that and just want to play football and score goals.

"This season has been very frustrating. I have not been the No1 choice. That is life, I suppose, but I think I have shown when I have played that I have given everything.

"We have not scored goals as a team, whoever has played."

Nevertheless, the writing has been on the wall for Harris.

Wise brought Danny Dichio and Barry Hayles to the club on longterm deals in February and August this year and Stefan Moore and Jo Tessem have been drafted in on loan spells since the start of the season.

Mark McCammon has started more league games than Harris this term and even though Millwall have had to cope with strikers' injuries, the fans' favourite does not seem to hold as much sway within the club as he does in the stands.

If he is bitter, he is not showing it. But that does not mean he has not crossed swords with Wise.

Harris said: "I do knock on his door sometimes. As a player, if you are not playing or have been dropped you like to know why, even if it appears obvious.

"Sometimes you have to get things off your chest and Dennis is very open and honest and that is all you can ask for in a manager."

The striker is keen not to do anything to damage his relationship with the Millwall fans.

He has shared with them the achievements of winning promotion from Division Two, getting into the play-offs and the FA Cup final, even qualification for the UEFA Cup.

"I have been here a long time and I have given my all for the club," said Harris.

"I have been through a lot of good times and a few bad and dark times. I would like to think we have always complimented each other, me and the fans, and hopefully that will continue.

"They have always been fantastic to me and given me 110 per cent and I think they appreciate players who do the same for them. Every time I put the shirt on, that is what I give.

"I have loved it at Millwall and have a lot of good friends here."

But Harris is not leaving just yet and there are a few more landmarks he would like to pass before he does.

His goal in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Cardiff finally put him level with Teddy Sheringham as the club's alltime leading scorer in the league with 93 goals.

It was Harris's first of a difficult season in which the striker would love to prove his doubters wrong.

He said: "I think it will be nicer to get the next goal and be the No1.

"There was no pressure to get there but I have been well aware of how close I was to it for a long time now.

"Teddy is well remembered for his time here and rightly so. I am very proud and honoured to be up there with him."

Another achievement for Harris would be to score against the club he supported as a boy.

Although raised in Essex, Harris became a fan of Liverpool and had a trial with them before joining Millwall from Cambridge City in 1998.

Wise's team have no new injuries for tonight's game but, with Hayles cup-tied and Dichio still out with a groin injury, Harris should get the chance to face Liverpool.

Rafael Benitez will rest several first-choice players and Neil Mellor, who spent last season on loan at West Ham, will start, along with three other graduates from the club's academy. Harris said: "I idolised Ian Rush as a kid and had posters up on my wall. I watched them most seasons at West Ham and in cup finals.

"You don't get a chance to really follow anyone when you are playing.

"I had a trial up there once when Roy Evans was manager. I played in a reserve game and scored. I had a fantastic week and thought I was going to sign, but it was not to be and I signed at Millwall a few months later

"With hindsight I am very glad that I came here and became a part of Millwall. I would not change that for the world."