ANDY Preece's Bury squad is stretched to the limit ahead of tomorrow's Nationwide Division Three trip to Bristol Rovers.

Harpal Singh is expected to be out until the New Year after dislocating his shoulder in training earlier this week.

Striker Gareth Seddon and Paul O'Shaughnessy are suspended, although the latter would have missed the trip to the Memorial Ground after succumbing to the virus which has swept the club.

And Canadian pair Terry Dunfield and Justin Thompson are away on international duty in under-23 Olympic qualifying matches against El Salvador next week.

Preece admitted that his side face a tough test tomorrow as they look to bounce back from last saturday's FA Cup defeat at home to Rochdale.

"These things seem to be sent to test you," explained a philosophical Preece.

"After losing last week we are just looking forward to getting into a game. But it's a massive blow to lose Harpal, especially so soon after him signing for us.

"It was an innocuous clash in training that did it, it's just one of those things that can happen."

Singh seems certain to be out for six to eight weeks at least and will be visiting a specialist to have the injury scanned.

On the plus side, Danny Swailes is back from suspension although there was doubt about his return after picking up a foot infection during the week.

The infection is responding to antibiotics and he should be okay for tomorrow.

Long-term injury victims George Clegg and Matt Barrass are not yet match fit but may figure at Bristol, as could young striker Daniel Douglas-Pringle and defender John Cartledge. The game will be the last for on-loan Manchester City midfielder Glenn Whelan before he flies out to the United Arab Emirates to play for Eire under-21s in a FIFA youth tournament.