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Preview: Form is key to success, form is key to points and form is key to everything Alan Knill does with the first team. A quick look at the Stat Attack shows that Bury are bang on form, though in reality, nobody who watches the lads week in week out needs to know about form - they've seen it with their own eyes.
Five wins on the run, three clean sheets on the run, third in the table, not lost at home since September, two defeats in 20 games - you simply cannot dress this up any more - Bury are flying.
The biggest and most remarkable aspect of this form - the injured players haven't really played a part. They are back, the squad hasn't looked this strong since the first game of the season. Maybe for only the second time this season, Alan Knill has some really tough choices to make. Does he stick to his normal routine in never changing a winning side, will he rest one or two - Andy Morrell - Efe Sodje to name two from many.
Even if he does tell the players they need a rest, he has absolutely no chance in hell with the players agreeing with him. The players want to play, they want to continue and who wouldn't. We all know that the managers decision in such things is final, but have you ever known the gaffer change things for reasons other than injury or suspensions. No, thought not.
Changes were made for the Bradford game, but only because Dave Buchanan has picked up an injury. Tom Newey came in and did a job, he nearly put the ball in the back of the net, he played his part.
Andy Bishop, Ryan Cresswell and Damien Allen are all available to the manager. Bishop could get longer, Allen could make his long awaited debut and Cresswell has that calming affect at the back. Sam Hewson arrived from Manchester United and has briefly shown what he is about - what if that shot had gone in - where would he stand for tonight's game - easy to answer, on the bench.
Belief is another key word that is rarely used. We have used it in previews in the past, but mostly as a phrase to describe surviving relegation or league survival. The gaffer stated on Saturday that the players were hungry for success, that belief can be seen in and around the club on a daily basis.
Third in the table, two points behind Bournemouth. The Cherries have their own tough game tonight with Notts County at Dean Court. A Bury win, and the right result in Dorset could see us in second position come midnight. Leaders Rochdale don't have a game tonight or at the weekend, before the play their next game, they could be moved of the top of the table - by Bury. The right results tonight, at Chesterfield on Saturday and at home to Shrewsbury a week on Friday could see Bury go on top of the lot - optimism is kicking in.
Don't get too far ahead of ourselves is the message from the manager. There's only one game that matters - and that's the next one. Macclesfield Town, they are all that matter to Knill and Brass.
As the Shakers come out of their injury nightmare, it would appear that Keith Alexander is midway through his own version of it. The Silkmen will be without midfielder Paul Bolland for two weeks. The midfielder went off injured with a groin strain in the first half against Shrewsbury leaving the Silkmen with only Lee Bell as a recognised central midfielder.
Ross Draper is expected back soon but Tuesday might be a bit to soon after his hernia op. Meanwhile, Carl Tremarco is set to go under the knife this week whilst Hamza Bencherif is out of plaster, but still on crutches after his broken ankle.
There are reports that the Shakers former director of football has signed Richard Butcher from Lincoln City, but as yet those reports are not confirmed by either Lincoln or Macclesfield Town's respective official websites.
Expect a tough night | 
