ONE of Bury FC's up-and-coming junior professionals could make their full debut at Torquay on Saturday.

Suspensions and injuries have limited Shakers' boss Andy Preece's options ahead of the tough trip to Plainmoor, opening the first-team door for either winger Simon Whaley or midfielder Steve Gunby.

Both have been on the bench for the Shakers this season but Preece reckons the time could be right for a full appearance for one of the talented pairing.

With George Clegg and Matty Barrass out with long-term injuries, Lee Unsworth suffering with a hamstring problem and Danny Swailes (also hamstring) struggling, the manager has few options.

And as midfielder Paul O'Shaughnessy serves a one-match suspension it looks like being a big day for either 18-year-old Whaley or 19-year-old Gunby.

"Lee (Unsworth) is a someone who can play in a number of positions and when you take him out of the squad you are limited," said Preece.

"We might have to play one of the youngers lads like Simon (Whaley) or Steve (Gunby) for their first full start. It's something we will have to look at."

Tuesday night's morale-boosting 2-0 victory over York has given the squad a massive boost after three consecutive defeats.

But Preece rates tomorrow's opponents very highly and will be hoping to keep 11 men on the field after last season's corresponding fixture saw the Shakers reduced to nine men with Danny Swailes and Terry Dunfield getting their marching orders.

Nevertheless, Bury still managed to secure a crucial 1-1 draw.

"Torquay are a really good side and I believe they are very underrated. I'm sure they will be up there at the end of the season," said Preece.

"They are probably playing the best football in our division at the moment so it's bound to be a tough one.

"That said, we got a point with nine men last year so hopefully if we can keep 11 on we'll go one better!"

One player who may be making his final appearance in a Bury shirt is on-loan Hull City central defender Greg Strong.

His loan period is up after the Torquay game and talks will be taking place before the weekend to see if his stay at Gigg can be extended.

"We'll have to have a chat and see what happens with Greg," added Preece.

"He's finding it hard travelling over, especially when we are training twice a day, and it's taking a bit out of him.

"While he's out of the picture at Hull he wants first-team football and is ideally looking for something long term."

For the second successive season the epic trip to Plainmoor is followed by another long haul to Cambridge United the following week.

"They seem to like to throw that one up at us and get us travelling," said Preece.

"Both are tough places to go and a repeat of the four points we picked up last year will do nicely."