BURY have a great opportunity to steal a march over their Third Division promotion rivals when they take on Nationwide League new boys Boston United at Gigg Lane tomorrow (3pm).

Six of their fellow pacesetters are in action against one another with Hartlepool entertaining Oxford United, Rushden at home to Cambridge and Torquay making the long trip to Wrexham.

It adds up to a fine chance for the Shakers to put more points between them and their rivals and consolidate themselves in the third automatic promotion place.

And boss Andy Preece believes the fans can give his side a massive lift for what is going to be the first of a number of vital games for the club.

Tomorrow's match is followed by the LDV Vans Trophy northern semi-final at Carlisle on Tuesday night.

The Shakers are then on the road at promotion rivals Kidderminster next Saturday before high-flying Oxford are the next visitors to Gigg in a fortnight.

"It's the start of a crucial few weeks that could make or break our season," he said.

"And we desperately need fans in the town to get behind us.

"They can play a huge part between now and the end of the season and hopefully we'll get a good gate for tomorrow's match as it is the only home game till February.

"More contracts will need to be sorted at the end of the month out so a big crowd would give us a big boost.

"We also need the fans to be patient because the goals won't always flow like they did on Tuesday night.

"Clubs are visiting Gigg Lane and shutting up shop so I'd ask our supporters to be patient because if they get frustrated it transmits to the lads on the field.

"If we stick together we can get the results we need and have a real go at promotion."

Despite their lowly position in the table Boston won't be pushovers as they have dragged themselves from the bottom of the table in recent weeks.

And the Shakers know all about their battling attributes after they grabbed a stoppage time equaliser in the 1-1 game in Lincolnshire back in August.

It's two in one out on the personnel stakes for Preece with Chris Billy serving a one match suspension but both Colin Woodthorpe and Jamie Stuart are back after their bans.