BURY will have to smash their TV hoodoo tonight if they are to exact revenge on arch rivals Bolton Wanderers.

The club's players, management and supporters are still smarting from the 4-0 thrashing at the Reebok Stadium in November and hope it will be 'lucky seven' after failing to win in their six previous appearances on Sky TV.

But Shakers boss Neil Warnock, who bore the brunt of the fans' fury following the nightmare derby clash, believes his side is capable of scoring its biggest shock of the season.

"I have told the lads to go for it tonight," he said. "It is no use trying to defend. If we had tried to defend against Sunderland they would still have scored and Bolton are the same. We have to match fire with fire and go for the win."

That's easier said than done. The goal-shy Shakers have found the net only four times in their last 12 outings - and two of those were in the Sunderland defeat last week.

With first choice marksman Derek Lilley almost certainly ruled out for the season through injury and strike partner Paul Barnes rated 50-50 for tonight's all-ticket game, it looks an even tougher proposition.

Lilley suffered a hamstring strain in the goalless draw at Grimsby last week and has only an outside chance of making the Port Vale finale on May 9.

Barnes, who has a similar problem, will be given until the last minute to prove his fitness, although a place on the bench looks his best hope.

"Barnes has done some light training but I don't expect him to start," added Warnock. "If he can do some more today with no reaction then I will probably use him as a substitute.

"He knows how important the game is to Bury and has told me he is prepared to risk his leg. One thing is for sure, if we were safe I would not even consider playing him."

Warnock is set to stick with a 4-4-2 formation, with Andy Preece or Adrian Littlejohn partnering Laurent D'Jaffo up front.

"They hammered us at the Reebok and that hurt," said Warnock. "We owe it to the fans to put the record straight. I have always said that if they can see the players trying their hardest then they will not give them stick. At Bolton it looked like some players were not giving 100 per cent."

The Bury boss admits his own tactics back-fired in that nightmare game, with three strikers proving a costly mistake.

"We were a bit naive then, but I am more confident this time. I think Bolton will be promoted this season. In fact, I hope they lose to us and then win every game!"

Bury team: Kiely, West, Serrant, Daws, Lucketti, Woodward, Swailes, Preece or Littlejohn, D'Jaffo, Bullock, Billy.

Warnock may be tempted to give Lutel James a spot on the bench. The diminutive striker was due back from the West Indies last night after playing three matches for St Kitts.

Win, lose or draw, Bury will pocket another £40,000 in Sky TV money. Kick-off is 7.45pm and tickets are on sale until 12 noon today.

Ticket winners for tonight's game are G Chester (four), D Foster (four), M Green (two) and A Rothwell (two).

The club will release 1,000 balloons ahead of the game, many of which will contain prize slips.

Fans who stumble across a winning balloon will be able to claim their prize from Gigg Lane.

The release has been organised by PR World Travel of Radcliffe and Prestwich.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.