SHAKERS are rolling their sleeves up for a real armwrestle when battlers Tranmere Rovers land at Gigg Lane tonight.

The Wirral outfit may be flying high near the Division Two play-off places but Bury defender Lee Unsworth believes the LDV Vans Trophy clash could feature more scuffle than skill.

His expectations arise from a bad tempered league meeting of the two sides at Gigg Lane in January, which saw Bury boss Andy Preece take an early bath then watch his side slump to a 1-0 defeat.

Now Unsworth expects a similarly bruising affair in their Northern Area quarter-final.

"You never get an easy game against Tranmere. They are a good side and showed that at Gigg Lane when they beat us in the league last season," he said.

"It was a really physical game. They were knocking us about a bit off the ball and I remember our manager getting sent off.

"I have heard that they are going to put a full strength side out because they've not had a game at the weekend either and they are all desperate for a game. So we're all looking forward to it."

And, with dreams of a trip to Cardiff's Millennium stadium drawing ever closer to reality, it seems Rovers are not the only ones refusing to take this competition lightly.

Unsworth admits the cup fever which died away following Bury's Worthington and FA Cup exits to Fulham and Plymouth is back with a vengeance.

"We are taking this competition very seriously, especially now we have got through a couple of rounds," he said.

"We are only three games away from a place at Cardiff in front of the television cameras. So this is a big chance for a couple of the lads who have only played in a couple of games, like Nicky Hill and Ian Lawson, to not only prove themselves fit for a first team place but to help take us one step nearer."

Unsworth himself is enjoying arguably his finest season since arriving from Crewe Alexandra in 2000.

His preferred centre back role now appears to have been cast away in favour of a far more adventurous right wing back position, which has already propelled him on to the scoresheet on a couple of occasions this campaign.

And he confesses the chance to get among the goalscorers has been a major bonus.

"I've scored a couple of goals for a change this season and it's about time, really," he said.

"I've been pretty much ever-present this season and the manager has been good enough to keep me in the squad.

"I have enjoyed playing on the right hand side this year and any player will tell you it's better to be getting into the box and helping the front players out than just sitting in your own half.

"But as long as I can help the team to win games, I'll be happy enough. We've been scoring quite a few goals and strung some good results together. Now the key is to get some kind of home form sorted out."