SHAKERS' boss Andy Preece has a midfield conundrum to contend with ahead of tomorrow's tough encounter at Queens' Park Rangers.

The manager is missing no fewer than SIX players from the team's engine room, leaving him virtually no room for maneouvre.

Jason Jarrett and Chris Billy are both serving one-match suspensions for the Shepherd's Bush clash and with Martyn Forrest (ankle), Paul Reid (hernia), Paul O'Shaughnessy (foot) definitely out and Matt Murphy a doubt with a damaged ankle picked up in training, Preece's options are limited to say the least.

One plus point is the return to fitness of David Borley, who is assured of a starting place, while Lee Connell may get the chance to stake a claim for his favourite position of central midfield.

"It's not looking too clever for us for midfielders," said Preece. "We may have to push Danny Swailes further forward if Matt Murphy doesn't make it.

"But I'm confident that whoever goes in there will do a good job for us. And, should he play, it would be a great chance for Lee Connell to show what he can do at first team level.

"He's been waiting quite a while to play in midfield and it would be up to him to take his chance.

"Fortunately, we are okay for defenders, although Sam Collins is a third player suspended for us."

Leading scorer Jon Newby, Gareth Seddon and George Clegg look likely to feature in the forward places, although they will be looking over their shoulders as Preece himself, Ian Lawson and Marc Whiteman all scored in a 3-0 reserve team victory over Darlington at Radcliffe on Monday afternoon.

"That was the first reserve game I had played since September and it went well," he added.

"The three of us will be putting the forwards under pressure now, so we are blessed in the forward positions at the moment."

Rangers have been one of the Second Division's form teams in recent weeks and last weekend's defeat at Reading ended an eight-game unbeaten run.

They are boosted by the return from suspension of full-back Danny Murphy, winger Doudou and central defender Daniel Shittu who was signed from Charlton Athletic earlier this week after impressing in a loan spell at Loftus Road.

Shittu's signing was courtesy of a number of Rangers fans who stumped up the £350,000 asking price themselves!