It has been a tough few weeks for Torquay with a run of seven League Two games without a win, a cut in manager Paul Buckle's playing budget and the decision this week to put captain Nicky Wroe on the transfer list.

Now they face Bury, one of the form sides in League Two on the back of an unbeaten run of six games, and manager Alan Knill thinks this could be the best Shakers side he has taken charge of.

"On paper this team is as good as any of my other sides," he told the Bury Times.

"I am hopeful they will be even better.

"But we are only 11 games into the season and it's too early to be making judgements like that.

"I am pleased with how we are progressing."

Bury already have a strong record on the road this season with wins over Oxford, Cheltenham and Morecambe and a 1-1 draw at Barnet providing a strong return from five games.

Striker Ryan Lowe is one of the key men for the Shakers and his double last weekend in the 3-0 victory over Accrington means he is bang on form for this match.

Torquay are saying all the right things in the build-up to Saturday with Buckle, new captain Lee Mansell and defender Guy Branston all painting a positive picture of life at Plainmoor.

Branston told the Herald Express: "We've still got 35 games left.

"If we can stick together and get over this tricky spell of results, I'm sure we can push on and have a good season.

"We're playing some sexy, entertaining football, but right now I think I'd settle for an ugly win!"

However, it has been a really frustrating time for the Gulls and twice throwing away a two-goal lead in the 3-3 draw at Crewe last weekend can't have raised confidence.

They could also be rattled by the news surrounding Wroe's future with the former York midfielder acting as a talisman during the Devon outfit's rise from the Blue Square Premier to League Two.

These two sides are going in opposite directions at the moment so get with Bury at 3.20 as they bid to bag a spot in the automatic promotion places.

PICK:
Bury to beat Torquay at 3.20 at Bet365.