DEREK Lilley will be thrown straight into the thick of Bury's relegation dogfight on Saturday - and he can't wait.

After a season in Leeds United's reserves, the 25-year-old striker is champing at the bit to get back on the park and, most importantly for the Shakers, start scoring goals.

"There are only eight games remaining, so I don't have any time to settle in. My job is to find the net and that is what I intent to do from Saturday onwards," he said.

First stop on a busy Easter weekend is Stockport County, 3pm kick-off, and with only a single goal scored in their last seven outings, the Shakers will be looking to Lilley to make an early impact. "I don't mind that. We are in a difficult position, but I like a challenge. It is better than coming to a club in mid-table with nothing to play for," he said.

"The lads are all keyed up and ready to go."

Lilley was snapped up by Leeds for less than £500,000 two years ago but, after four starts and 19 appearances on the bench for the Premiership giants, his value has soared above £1m - way off Bury's price scale.

But he intends to make it difficult for the club to let him go.

"I think my days in the Leeds first team are over now," he admitted. "They have some good young players and will be looking to sign big name players now they are chasing the title.

"If I do well at Gigg Lane and score goals then it will put pressure on Bury and they will have to decide what they want to do. "Either way, if I score goals in Division One then it is a good advert for myself."

The Scotsman turned down Burnley, Oldham and Norwich before finally succumbing to Neil Warnock's persuasive powers.

He explained: "I wanted a club which I could commute to from Leeds and Neil sold it to me. He spoke highly of the club and players and that was what I wanted to hear."

Not for the first time this season, it will be a new-look Bury strikeforce at Stockport with Lilley partnering recent acquisition Paul Barnes, who will be making only his third appearance for the club.

The duo have already had time to acquaint themselves, travelling over to training together from Yorkshire this week.

It promises to be a quality pairing but there could be more changes if Laurent D'Jaffo - out suspended on Saturday - makes an expected return for the home clash with Bradford City on Monday, 3pm kick-off.

But competition for places can only help the Shakers' survival cause.

With Lutel James, Adrian Littlejohn, Andy Preece and Nigel Jemson breathing down their necks, there are no more excuses for blank scoresheets.

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