Shakers to stick with Hope and Rose
Bury boss David Flitcroft is expected to keep faith with his misfiring young strikers when they welcome Exeter to Gigg Lane on Saturday.
Hallam Hope, aged 20, stretched his barren run in front of goal to 12 matches last weekend while 21-year-old Danny Rose has just three goals in his last 25 appearances.
Flitcroft does have the option of calling on senior forward Daniel Nardiello to shoulder the burden upfront, with leading marksman Ryan Lowe ruled out of action until March with a hamstring problem.
Defender Joe Riley also misses out due to a pulled hamstring while second-choice goalkeeper Rob Lainton continues his recovery from a hernia operation.
Exeter will wait on the fitness of four regulars when they make the trip north.
Midfielders David Noble and Ryan Harley missed last weekend's home loss to Tranmere with hamstring injuries while the versatile Scot Bennett was sidelined with an ankle issue and the trio are all rated as 50/50 along with goalkeeper James Hamon (leg).
While Noble, Harley and Bennett are likely to start if fit, Paul Tisdale will have a goalkeeping dilemma if Hamon is available after an eye-catching display from the recalled Christy Pym last weekend.
The Grecians, who sit three points behind the Shakers in the table, signed midfielder Tom McCready on transfer deadline day but the former Morecambe man is unlikely to come into contention this week.
Source: PA
