ANDY Preece has primed his players to prove the knockers wrong this Christmas ahead of Saturday's important Gigg Lane clash against Swindon.

The Bury boss reckons that certain people will be saying "I told you so" after the Shakers season has taken a distinct nosedive after a superb start.

Second place in mid-October has turned to seventeenth place half way through December but Preece is confident he has the players to still make a mark on the season.

A win against struggling Swindon, lying in twentieth place, would be the perfect start to the festive campaign, though the Robins have won their last three matches.

"It's up to us to get back up the table and prove the doubters wrong," said Preece.

"The next four games could be make or break for us. There isn't much in it and a good run could catapult us back into contention.

"We could do with a few results like we had last Christmas against Burnley when we showed just what we can do.

"After twelve months in charge it's only gone wrong for us in the last two months but I'm still certain we can get something out of the season." Preece has all his first team squad on stand-by for the four games in eight days holiday schedule when Saturday's visit of Swindon is followed by a trip to Stoke City on Boxing Day.

A week Saturday it's over the Welsh border to Wrexham before high-flying Rotherham United are the visitors to Gigg on New Years Day.

Town, who picked up a fine victory over Rotherham at Millmoor last week, have also just taken Manchester City midfielder Jim Whitley on loan for three months with a view to a permanent move to the County Ground.

The player who is really attracting attention though is Australian Danny Invincible -- and it's not just his surname that makes people remember him.

Invincible, signed from Sydney outfit Marconi Stallions in the summer, is 21 and has eight goals to his credit for Swindon so far.

Another man to watch out for in the Robins ranks is former Nottingham Forest winger Ian Woan, who scored a spectacular free-kick against Rotherham last weekend.

Keith O'Halloran is back from a one-match suspension and is likely to slot into the right side of midfield in a 4-5-1 formation with Gary Alexander, signed from West Ham United in the summer, the lone striker.

Preece will be without long term injury victim Matt Barrass and young central defender Danny Swailes (hamstring) while the concussion that loan striker Andy Smith suffered in last Saturday's Oldham match has plagued him all week and he hasn't been able to train.

However, he will be given as much chance as possible to prove his fitness.

THERE will be another bucket collection in aid of the Save Our Shakers campaign prior to the game against Swindon Town.