CHRIS Casper is distancing himself from the tension of the relegation race for the sake of his sanity.

The Bury boss is all too aware that his side lie just six points from the drop zone, with fellow strugglers Wrexham and Macclesfield Town in possession of a game in hand.

Four matches remain in what has been a traumatic season, and stress levels at Gigg Lane are hardly likely to subside when promotion-chasing Swindon Town arrive on Saturday, looking to secure a play-off position with victory.

In just over 18 months in charge of the Shakers, Casper has successfully fought against the drop on the last day of last season, locked horns with the FA and Football League after twice being found guilty of fielding an ineligible player and presided over a current campaign which has seen his side win six on the bounce before going 16 without victory.

It's enough to send any manager prematurely grey but, with the help of his family, Casper said he has handled the strain of another season battling at the wrong end of the table.

"My children take a lot of the pressure off me because they are only young, and take up a lot of my free time," Casper said.

"That means I'm not thinking about the job all the time, which would do me no good at all.

"My family are very important to me, and I have learned that if I can't affect something, to let it drop."

One situation Casper will be able to influence will be the Swindon clash, where the Shakers hope to bounce back after defeats against Rochdale and Bristol Rovers over the Easter weekend.

Aside from Chris Brass (groin) and Brian Barry-Murphy (hamstring), he will have a full squad to choose from and has promised changes after a drab show at the Memorial Stadium four days ago.

Marc Pugh, Tom Youngs and Tom Kennedy are on standby for a recall to the side, who have won just four home games all season. With two ties at Gigg Lane left to go, the Shakers must win both to avoid equalling their worst-ever season of results.

Statistics, though, are one thing the Bury boss is keen to avoid.

"If there is some way that I can avoid putting pressure on myself, then I will do it.

"Pressure is only something that you can place upon yourself, so for example, if you sit looking at league tables and other results, there is no way you can affect how other teams go.

"Last season I asked a couple of experienced managers how they coped with it, and their advice was all the same: Don't pile pressure on yourself.

"I can only affect what Bury Football Club get up to, so I have to concentrate on that job or I'd go mad."