POSH and Barry Fry are not words that would, in the normal course of events, often follow one another, but his season they have become inextricably knotted together.

Fry, of course, is the down-to-earth effervescent character who brought Barnet into the Football League then seemingly tried to buy every player in England in a topsy-turvy tenure at Birmingham.

It was after he departed company with Karen Brady and David Sullivan at St Andrews that Fry decided that if he couldn't beat 'em he'd join 'em and promptly acquired a controlling interest in Peterborough - or Posh to their friends.

And,tomorrow (Saturday 12th), Fry and his new club stand between the Shakers and their highest league position for seven years.

Manager/owner is a job eminently well-suited to the razor-sharp, engaging and honest Fry who is undoubtedly one of the game's great characters having survived serious heart trouble to continue in the sport he loves.

Outspoken Bazza is never short of twenty words where ten will do and his sides usually have the same attitude towards scoring goals.

They banged in six against Wycombe in their last but one home game and then four at Deepdale on Saturday as they downed North End 4-3.

On both occasions Posh came from 3-1 behind and maybe that's a score the Shakers should try and avoid tomorrow.

Simon Clarke, Scott Houghton, Ken Charlery and Zek Rowe scored at Preston where Posh - who then lost at home on Tuesday to Notts County - even had the luxury of missing a penalty. They are capable of goals from virtually anywhere with a scoring power matched only by an equally cavalier attitude to defending. Entertainment is the name of the game when Posh are about.

So far this season their eleven contests have yielded a highest-in-the-division 42 goals, a tally that speaks volumes about Fry's philosophy.

It is a Modus Operandi well known to Shakers' skipper Mark Carter who was part of Fry's original Barnet side and is hoping to face his former mentor.

"He's a brilliant character, they certainly broke the mould when they made him," suggested the Bury striker. "He's not the type of manager that is bothered about clean sheets but just wants to score millions of goals.

"That was always his philosophy. He would rather win a match 4-3 than 1-0 and judging by some of Peterborough's results this season, that hasn't changed."

"I am hoping to be fit to face Posh because two of my old teammates, Derek Payne and Dave Regis are at London Road and it will be nice to see - and beat - them."

Carter is expected to be available for selection with the only doubts surrounding Nicky Reid (cut knee) and striker Ronnie Jepson who has a bothersome thigh. Ian Hughes and Paul Butler are fit again, giving boss Stan Ternent a selection headache in defence where Andy Woodward has been outstanding.

Bury's youngsters will next meet Chester (away) in the FA Youth Cup after a Daniel Jones' goal earned them a 1-0 win at Marine on Tuesday night.

Former Bury boss Mike Walsh has joined Swindon Town as assistant to Steve McMahon.

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