BURY'S recent uninspiring FA Cup record will be put to the test again on Saturday and boss Andy Preece can't wait.

The Shakers chief is desperate for his team to embark on a moneyspinning run but first they must despatch local rivals Rochdale in the first round at Gigg Lane (3pm).

Club officials confidently expect the biggest gate of the season for the long-awaited derby encounter and with the Shakers on a three game winning sequence confidence in the camp is high.

Home wins over high-flying Yeovil last Saturday and against Lancashire rivals Oldham Athletic in the LDV Vans Trophy on Monday evening have certainly whetted the appetite of soccer fans in the town.

Consequently the club are looking for a red-hot atmosphere at Gigg come kick-off time - and hopefully the right result!

"Everyone wants to play in local derbies and the FA Cup," said Preece.

"There is always a buzz about a club the week leading up to matches like this.

"With the form we are in all the lads are raring to go and dying to get out playing again."

"And I'm sure our winning run and this big cup match against Rochdale will get the fans behind us.

"People always talk about our FA Cup record being poor over the last few years and I'd love to put that right.

"It's a massive game. No-one wants to be knocked out of the competition so early, but it'd be worse against our local rivals.

"We've got to make sure it doesn't happen to us."

Preece also believes the television companies have missed out on what will be a real Lancashire hotpot of a tie, full of passion and endeavour.

In truth, he's a bit disillusioned about the way the companies choose which teams get the lucrative coverage.

"I can see why the Yeovil v Wrexham game would be a good game for TV as there could be a shock," he explained.

"But we haven't been on for a long, long time while Yeovil have on a few occasions.

"I don't think the distribution of TV appearance money is very evenly spread and that's disappointing.

"Even when we were almost down and out in our darkest days of administration we didn't get a game on Sky.

"Yet struggling Oldham were on the other week and York also got one when they needed it.

"It's disappointing but maybe we are just too unfashionable.

"The only think you can do is make sure you get to the third round, draw a big club and make money that way."

Rochdale showed how that was done last season when a superb run eventually ended in them being knocked out in the fifth round at Wolverhampton Wanderers - in front of the Sky cameras.

The Spotland side made more than £500,000 from that adventure, an absolute Godsend to clubs the size of them and the Shakers.

On the field there's plenty for Preece to think about teamwise before kick-off tomorrow.

Definitely out is central defender Danny Swailes who is suspended while striker Gareth Seddon has also been struggling this week with the virus that has swept through the club.

To strengthen the boss's hand, Chris Porter (virus) got 90 minutes action in the reserves at Shrewsbury on Wednesday while long-term knee injury victims George Clegg and Matt Barrass also got in some action at Gay Meadow.

Add to that the performance of debutants Justin Thompson and Tom Kennedy against Oldham on Monday and it's quite a healthy selection situation the manager has had to deal with for a change.