SHAKERS boss Andy Preece is looking forward to a tasty Lancashire hotpot against arch rivals Bolton tomorrow.
Thousands of fans are expected at Gigg Lane to enjoy the revival of the traditional derby clash between the two enemies.
And Preece is hoping that his team can maintain their excellent form and end the pre-season unbeaten over 90 minutes.
While Wanderers' have been struggling on tours to Denmark and America, the Shakers have enjoyed a less exotic but highly successful tour of the Isle of Man coupled with friendly wins against Radcliffe Boro, Droylsden and Evesham - the latest Bury victims, beaten 6-1 on Wednesday night with goals from Preece (2), Jason Jarrett (2), Darren Bullock and Bhaichung Bhutia.
Preece is looking forward to showing the Shakers fans just how much his charges have come on since May.
He said: "We've had a very good pre-season. I don't count the Oldham game as a defeat so we are unbeaten and that's a good habit to have.
"I don't know how many fans will come tomorrow but hopefully there will be a few because Bolton are a good team and it will probably be the only chance we get to play them this year.
"It will be the toughest test of all our pre-season games and I'll be able to guage a lot from it. It might only be a friendly but for the fans it's a chance to play Bolton and that means a lot.
"We'll be treating it as though it is our first league game and as it's the first time we've played in front of our supporters in the pre-season, I hope we can put on a good performance for them and show them how much we've improved from last year."
The team which starts tomorrow's game, says Preece, is likely to be "very close" to the one which begins at Cambridge a week on Saturday when the Shakers kick off their league campaign.
The whole squad is fit, with Lutel James and Darren Bullock - the two main injury worries - playing 90 and 75 minutes respectively at Evesham and suffering no ill-effects.
Preece was delighted with the Evesham performance and wants a repeat tomorrow, though he knows it is making his job harder.
He said: "I was very pleased with us against Evesham, especially with our work rate and our passing. Our attitude was spot on.
"There are a lot of players who have done really well and they are making my job hard because it is difficult to pick a first 11 out of 20 good players.
"Jason Jarrett has been great and he scored two against Evesham. Baichung had 45 minutes, scored one and could have had three more.
"There is a lot of competition, especially up front because everybody has been hitting the back of the net."
Bolton only returned from America on Wednesday and definitely missing from tomorrow's line-up will be striker Bo Hansen (dead leg) and international keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, on antibiotics for an elbow injury.
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