AFTER five straight defeats Shakers boss Andy Preece has admitted confidence at Gigg Lane has nosedived.

But, he reckons, it's nothing that a thumping win on Saturday wouldn't put right.

Preece is still in upbeat mood despite Bury's glorious start to the season being almost destroyed in recent weeks.

The home match against Luton on Saturday is now vital and Preece believes three points would get the Shakers right back on track.

"Our confidence has perhaps waned a little but it will come flooding back if we can win on Saturday," said the player manager, who has missed training this week because of a hamstring strain picked up in last weekend's defeat at Wigan.

"This next match is a massive game, the players know that, and it is one we should win. If we don't win then I'll have to make big changes.

"But I was pleased with the way we played against Wigan and I still can't work out how we didn't beat them. I think I'd be a lot more concerned if we weren't playing well but we are."

Preece maintains that despite the recent slump his players haven't let their heads drop and are still aiming for promotion.

"Despite the fact that we've had one of the worst runs in the league there are a lot of teams in the division who would like to be in our position," claimed Preece.

"We know what we can do because we've already beaten Walsall and the likes of Rotherham.

"We need to keep to the basics, be solid in defence and start keeping clean sheets again because we know if we do that we are always more than capable of knocking the ball in the net at the other end."

Top scorer and Wimbledon target Darren Bullock is continuing to undergo intensive treatment in a race against time to be fit for Saturday, though Preece concedes it is unlikely the midfielder will be ready