BURY manager Graham Barrow shouldn't need any motivational skills when his side take on Northampton Town at Gigg Lane on Saturday (3pm).

The Shakers faced Colin Calderwood's men twice last month at their Sixfields Stadium, narrowly losing both games, crucially the first one in the FA Cup.

On each occasion the Gigg Lane men can consider themselves unlucky not to have at least drawn, so they'll be hell bent on putting that right.

Another reason for putting one over on the Cobblers is to address a miserable run of eight games without a win, ironically started by that FA Cup defeat.

Victory would bring things full circle.

For his part, Barrow has had a busier time than normal this week, taking in no fewer than five matches as he searched for a central defender on loan to replace Danny Swailes.

Swailes' departure to Macclesfield Town eight days ago has left a massive gap in the defence, a fact highlighted by Saturday's 3-2 defeat at joint league leaders Scunthorpe United.

He has succeeded in bringing in Blackburn Rovers' Republic of Ireland Under-21 international John Fitzgerald for a month, and he goes straight into the starting eleven.

Fitzgerald (19) is a close friend of Leeds' striker Andy Keogh, who the manager brought in on loan last week to fill the gap left by leading scorer Dave Nugent's move to Preston.

Both are products of St Joseph's Boys Club in Dublin and Barrow believes that, just as Keogh shone with a goal on his debut last weekend, tough tacklingFitzgerald is just the man to shore up the Shakers' back line.

"John is a big, strong lad and a good header of the ball who can play a bit," he said.

"Some young players at Premiership clubs turn their nose up at loan moves to teams like ours, but that doesn't seem to be the case with some of the Irish lads.

"Glen Whelan was another good player who answered the challenge when he came to us from Manchester City last season.

"Nothing is a problem to them, they are good honest lads who want to get on with it."

Depending on whether Colin Woodthorpe recovers from his back problem, Fitzgerald is likely to replace Paul Scott who has a bruised toe, but disappointed Barrow at Glanford Park last week.

"I don't like to single out players but I think Paul let himself down at Scunthorpe," added Barrow.

"The team deserved as a whole to get something out of the game, but I was disappointed with his performance.

"He didn't get off the ground from the first minute to the last and had a big hand in all their three goals.

"It's a shame because he'd been chomping at the bit for an opportunity, but I don't think he coped with the high balls they were putting in at all."

Striker Chris Porter remains a doubt after limping out of the action with a knee injury last week.

He is back in training but is still feeling sore and will be given as much time as possible to recover.

"We've got a couple of new faces in this week and hopefully that will give us a lift," he said.

"It' a big game for us and we know we have to go out and stop the slide by winning.

"We'll work hard with the new lads to show them what we are about and go and get at them from the first whistle.

"There is nothing to fear, we were a match for Scunthorpe last week and we are a match for any team in this division.

"Oxford United have only lost one game out of the last eight and, six points adrift, are talking about going for the play-offs.

"If they can do that I'm sure we can, it's all about being positive."

The club have been running the rule over a number of trialists over the past week.

Former Manchester United youngster Callum Flanagan, a striker, played in the reserves' 3-1 victory at Oldham Athletic on Wednesday and one or two Australian players have been introduced to the club by former Everton winger Ronnie Goodlass.

But the player with the best chance of spending an extended stay at Gigg is Wigan Athletic's David Moore, a 19-year-old right-sided striker who Latics' boss Paul Jewell rates highly.

"Paul believes he'd benefit from some experience and Wigan are prepared to pay his wages," said Barrow.

"He'd be another option for us and if they are prepared to do that its hard to turn down."

On target for the second string against a strong Oldham side were Colin Kazim-Richards (2) and Jon Cartledge.

There has been no further contact with Leicester City since Kazim-Richards' spell at the Walker Stadium last week but Barrow still thinks the youngster's future is elsewhere other than Gigg Lane.

Barrow was delighted with the attitude of the players and supporters at Scunthorpe last week and is hoping for a repeat in Saturday's revenge mission.

"Our fans were superb last week and we could do with more of the same against Northampton," he said.

"If we can continue defending like we've done in our last two home matches well be okay.

"It gives us a platform to go and win the game and weve definitely got a goal threat with Andy (Keogh) coming in.

"He looks hungry for a goal or two and, with luck, we'll get Chris (Porter) up and running again.

"I thought he did really well for us last week and that goal will have done his confidence a lot of good.

"He really took the game to their centre-back Andy Crosby and we looked a poorer side when he went off."