BURY player-boss Andy Preece is ready to throw himself back into the starting 11 in a bid to stop Shakers' promotion bid coming off the rails.

Despite Tuesday night's shock defeat to strugglers Bristol City, Bury remain on the shoulders of third-placed Bournemouth.

But defeat away to Division Three leaders Hartlepool on Friday night could see them slip down as far as 11th over the weekend and leave them facing an uphill struggle to clinch an automatic promotion spot.

With only two goals from their last four home matches, the antidote to their fickle form is obvious.

And striker Preece reckons his inclusion from the opening whistle would inspire his young charges to convert pressure into points for the remainder of the season.

"It wouldn't be a popular decision with the fans if I put myself in the team but, out of the ten games I've started, we've won five and drawn two," he said.

"So I'm not scared to come out and play. Whether I'm 100 per cent fit or not, it just seems to make a difference having me on the pitch."

Shakers certainly looked a greater threat against the Pirates once Preece added his strength to the forward line.

And, with a capable deputy in Graham Barrow monitoring from the sideline, the manager certainly has greater influence on his side's organisation from outside the confines of his 'technical area.'

"There just doesn't seem to be a lot of talking out on the pitch," he said.

"The likes of Jamie Stuart and Michael Nelson will lead by example but you still need someone who will pull people about, give them a rollocking and get them all talking to each other.

"So I'm definitely an option we can use, although I've not ruled out bringing another player or two into the squad."

Preece may also choose a return to the starting line-up to help fellow front man Jon Newby rekindle his early season form.

Newby raced to seven goals form his opening 12 matches of the campaign but has not found the target since the home draw with Kidderminster in December.

That was also the fixture which saw Preece drop back to the substitutes' bench for the rest of the winter and that may prove the key to Newby's slump.

"He just has to keep working hard and believing in his own ability," said Preece.

"His form is a problem and maybe we should look at dropping him for a game or two. But you have to look at who we've got to replace him.

"David Nugent is only 17 and he's not scored since he's been in the starting line-up, Ian Lawson and Gareth Seddon are injured and Cramby (Colin Cramb) was disappointing against Bristol. So how can you leave him out?"