Royce had considered retiring this summer before signing a new deal
Gillingham manager Mark Stimson has admitted he faces a dilemma over which of his goalkeepers to play for the first game of the season at Swindon.
Last year's first choice Simon Royce played a key role in the Gills' return to League One, keeping 20 clean sheets.
But Alan Julian has been patient and impressed when he has had the chance.
"It's a close call. Royce has great experience and has been brilliant. But Alan has been knocking on the door for a year," Stimson told BBC Radio Kent.
He added: "I'll make the decision when I have to and fingers crossed it will be the right."
We'll decide who will play out in France on Saturday and whoever plays in that one has got the jersey to try and keep it
Mark Stimson
Royce played 90 minutes in their latest friendly, which ended in a 2-0 defeat by Blue Square South side Welling on Saturday.
Stimson is likely to give Julian a full game on Tuesday night at Bishop's Stortford.
"One played a full game Saturday, the other will play a full game on Tuesday," said Stimson.
"Then we'll decide who will play out in France (against Calais) on Saturday and whoever plays in that one has got the jersey to try and keep it."
Royce, 37, recently ended weeks of speculation over his future by signing a new one-year contract.
He has made 88 league and cup appearances since arriving at Priestfield, initially on loan, from QPR at the end of the 2006/07 season.
Julian, 26, has played four times for Gillingham since he joined from Stevenage in May 2008.
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