ENFORCED changes and not tactical ones will be foremost in the mind of Bury boss Andy Preece before tonight's Worthington Cup first round first leg tie at Crewe (7.45pm).

There will be no knee jerk reaction to Saturday's 4-1 home defeat at the hands of Wrexham according to the Shakers chief however a worrying crop of injuries could force his hand.

"We have to look at the bigger picture and I won't be panicked into making wholesale changes after one game," he said.

"Obviously if it happens again that is a different matter and we'll see how we go on at Crewe."

Preece has doubts about defender Chris Swailes, midfielder Paul Reid (stomach cramps), striker Paul Barnes (virus) and full-back Dean Barrick who twisted his back in training yesterday.

Barrick's likely replacement would have been youngster Nicky Hill but he has picked up an abductor strain and is also doubtful.

A crop of injuries is the last thing Preece needs in the run-up to a tough cup clash against First Division opponents.

Nevertheless he expects his charges to put Saturday's defeat to the back of their minds and concentrate on giving themselves a chance in the second leg at Gigg next Tuesday evening.

"Crewe are a decent side but if we go about things the right way there's no reason why we can't get through," he said.

"We mustn't give them the time we gave Wrexham on the ball or they have the players to punish us.

"We have to keep it tight and once we get them back to Gigg Lane it's a different story.

"If we can grab an away goal it would really help our cause and that's something we've got to look at."

One man who could have forced himself into the reckoning is Dean Crowe would picked up the Shakers consolation goal on Saturday.

The livewire striker looked back to his effervescent best after coming on as a second half replacement for Barnes and it would come as no surprise if he hadn't earned a starting berth after that performance.

One man looking forward to the clash is Bury right-back Lee Unsworth. He was released by Crewe during the summer after spending six years at the club and he still has a lot of friends there.

"They are a good team but we have a good group of lads here and we will get it together in training and bounce back," he said.

"It will be a special game for me because I know the lads at Crewe very well. We need to get to grips with players like Rodney Jack and stop them playing.

"You never know who we will draw if we get through this round. We could draw one of the Premiership big six and a club like this needs the money."

Crewe are planning to do a Manchester United and give several of their first team players a rest, allowing a number of their impressive youth team to have a run out.

Definitely included in the team will be 19-year-old defender Steve Foster and 18-year-old John Grant, a striker.

Foster will replace Efe Sodje, the former Macclesfield Town defender, who has made a big impression in his first couple of matches but picked up an injury in Crewe's 0-0 draw with Blackburn at the weekend.

Bury shoulnd't get complacent though. The youngsters Crewe bring in are already highly-rated and have been knocking on the door of Dario Gradi's first team squad for the last six months.