WHAT started as a "oh must we" exercise gets deadly serious tonight when Bury face Chesterfield for a place in the LDV Vans Trophy Semi-finals writes Steve Canavan

A win and the Shakers would be just a couple of steps away from an April big pay day at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

And though most people look on the LDV competition as a bit of joke, the gate receipts from a final clash could make all the difference to the short term future of the Shakers.

But tonight's game (kick off at Gigg Lane 7.45pm) will not be easy. Chesterfield are runaway leaders of the Third Division and have an awesome record on their travels while Bury are struggling to stay in Division Two and have won only once in 16 games - the worst yet Saturday's awful 3-0 hammering at Swindon.

However, the Shakers form in the LDV competition has been excellent. They started the cup campaign by eating Mansfield 2-1 and then despatched of Jan Molby's Kidderminster 2-0 in superb style.

Now, with a third consecutive home draw against a lower division team, Bury boss Andy Preece is determined to make it to the semis, even though many pundits reckon the Shakers are underdogs.

"I suppose because they are 15 points clear of their division people will be saying they are favourites but it is up to us to make sure it doesn't happen that way," said the Bury boss, who shrugged off Saturday's result by saying what was important was the rest of the season.

"Saturday's game has gone from my head. It's history and what matters is for me to pick the lads up and get them focused for tonight."

Preece confirmed that he will be sticking with the same kind of team which has got him so far in the competition, meaning another run out for many youth team and reserve players.

"It would be unfair on them if I changed things now because they've got us here," confirmed the manager. "It will be a blend of youth and experience and it will be another chance for players to impress. It is a difficult match but we are ready for it."

That means a likely recall for Baichung Bhutia - dropped for Saturday's Swindon clash - as well as starts for Danny Swailes and Nicky Hill.

The defence will have to be in top form to stop the free-scoring Spireites attack. Paired up front are 13-goal Luke Beckett and David Reeves, who has 11.

Tonight's winners go into the semi-finals, due to be played on 13 or 14 February.