SHAKERS boss Andy Preece will this week step up his attempts to inject new blood into his promotion chasing side.

The Bury manager believes one or two fresh faces could be just what his team needs as the race to get out of Division Three reaches its climax.

After narrowly missing out on Manchester City's Chris Shuker two weeks ago Preece has been working hard behind the scenes to add another attacking player to his squad with former loan signing Harpel Singh of Leeds United believed to be high on his list.

As ever, a lot is dependent on financial considerations, but the manager clearly believes some new blood would freshen up a squad that is struggling to find some consistency.

Friday night's creditable 0-0 draw at runaway leaders Hartlepool following the dismal 1-0 home defeat to struggling Bristol Rovers was a perfect example of the frustrating Jekyll and Hyde displays the Gigg Lane men are putting in.

But the performance at Victoria Park was far more to the manager's liking and he believes that should be a yardstick for the rest of the campaign.

"That's got to be our standard for the rest of the season," said Preece.

"If we play with that workrate and everyone contributes like they did on Friday it will take a very good side to stop us.

"We don't want to keep playing one decent game then let ourselves down.

"If we play like that for the rest of the games we'll go up.

"If you look at our last four away games at Cambridge, Torquay, York and Hartlepool we are unbeaten in all of them - it's no mean effort.

"We know where the problem lies and will have to sort it out."

With Ian Lawson (ankle) and Gareth Seddon (back) both with long-term injury problems the manager's attacking options have been curtailed and even newly-signed form British Universities player Chris Porter was on the substitutes bench at Hartlepool.

But according to Preece the 19-year-old Wiganer would have played if needed and wasn't just making up the numbers.

"Chris wasn't just there for the ride. I wouldn't put anyone on the bench if I didn't think they could contribute," he added.

"But the way our forwards played there was no opportunity for him, although I'm sure he'd have taken his chance if he'd gone on."