Boss Graham Turner is preparing Shrewsbury Town for a potential Christmas cracker at home to Bury on Boxing Day.

Shrewsbury remain hopeful of getting the game on at the Greenhous Meadow on Sunday, with a referee ruling the pitch was perfectly playable during an inspection at lunchtime today.

And Turner believes it will be one of the stiffest tests yet to Town’s unbeaten home record against a Bury side who lie third with seven wins from 10 away games.

“Bury are a very good side,” said Turner.

“I’ve seen them play in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, and we’ve had them watched a few times too, and the reports have all been very complimentary.

“They’ve narrowly missed out on promotion a couple of times and their manager Alan Knill knows what the game is about — he’s highly-regarded in football circles.”

Shrewsbury train tomorrow, with Turner insisting they must maintain their focus.

“It’s a busy time as we play on Sunday and then again on Tuesday,” he said.

“We might have Wednesday off next week but then we’ll train on Thursday and Friday for the Saturday game, then we’ll train again on Sunday for Monday.

“It’s the life of a professional footballer and you get used to it,” he added.

“Occasionally it would be nice to spend Christmas night with the family instead of being in a hotel.

“But it’s an intense period that could map out how the rest of our season goes and we have to make sure we are ready.”

Town had diggers from Wildes Plant Hire of Dorrington to clear the snow and ice from the car park at the Greenhous Meadow and fans hard at work inside the stadium yesterday in a bid to get the all clear for the Boxing Day clash.

Tuesday game at Lincoln City is subject to a 9.30am pitch inspection on Monday.

By CHRIS HUDSON