GRAHAM Barrow is desperately hoping Saturday's home clash against Southend will beat the weather and go ahead.

The Shakers are currently on a three-game unbeaten run and manager Barrow would dearly love to add another win to that sequence and round off what will have been a good January.

A thaw is expected in the next 36 hours but whether it's enough to put off an abandonment remains to be seen.

The snowfall of the last two days has left a thick dusting over the Gigg Lane pitch, but the big problem could be the frozen surface underneath, and possible waterlogging if heavy rains follow.

The Shrimpers are due to travel north on Friday afternoon so a decision will have to be made before lunchtime to avoid them making a wasted journey.

But as far as Barrow is concerned, he and his team are thinking of nothing but another home clash and the chance to go one better than last weekend's 0-0 draw with Kidderminster.

The match is a swan song for on-loan Manchester City midfielder Glenn Whelan, who comes to the end of his three month stay at Gigg Lane.

But there's better news for Barrow on the personnel front with Stockport County boss Sammy McIlroy agreeing to extend striker Jon Daly and defender Dave Challinor's loan stays for a further four weeks.

Saturday would have also been Daly's final match for the Shakers, while Challinor would have gone back to Edgeley Park after next weekend's game at Carlisle United.

"Sammy's decision to let us keep Jon and Dave was the only bit of good news I had this week," joked Barrow.

"It's great news for us and hopefully we can now continue our decent run.

"Three points tomorrow would put us in a smashing position in the league and round off a great month for us."

But the manager doesn't expect an easy time of it against the Essex strugglers, who defeated the Shakers at Roots Hall back in August.

"John Forrest watched them at Mansfield last week and said they were unlucky to lose 1-0, so it'll be a tough game," added Barrow.

"They have a bit of pace, a bit of experience and, of course, Jamie Stuart who was with us last season."

Southend caretaker boss Steve Tilson has something of an injury crisis ahead of the game with no fewer than eight players doubtful or missing.

Strikers Tesfaye Bramble, Jim Corbett and Michael Husbands; midfielders Leke Odunsi, Jamie Fullerton and Jay Smith and defenders Mark Warren and Lewis Hunt - on loan from Derby County - have all been on the treatment table this week.

Former Shaker Stuart is expected to play in either his accustomed left back role or in the centre of defence.

Meanwhile for the Shakers, Terry Dunfield will be back in contention after his one match suspension last week.

Kick-off at Gigg Lane is 3pm.

The weather put paid to Wednesday's scheduled reserve match at Macclesfield and scuppered Dave Flitcroft's hopes of 90 minutes in a Bury shirt.

Barrow is still keen to acquire the services of the midfielder and a deal will hopefully be struck once Whelan goes back to the City of Manchester Stadium.

The Shakers haven't let the inclement weather interrupt their training schedules and have been utilising The Cliff, Manchester United's Salford training ground during the week.