Boss Graham Turner has backed Shrewsbury Town to handle the promotion pressures – as his in-form side gear up for tonight’s crucial clash with fellow high-flyers Bury.

Town head into the fourth-versus-fifth Greenhous Meadow showdown firmly in contention for automatic promotion.

And, on the back of collecting 13 points from the last available 15, Turner is confident his squad can cope as the tension rises during the run-in.

“We have got the experienced players who have seen it all and the young players who don’t know what it’s about so we have got the best of both worlds,” said Turner.

“I don’t think it affects young players very much – they just go out and perform and play.

“We have also got one or two players who have experienced promotion before – the likes of Mark Wright, Matt Harrold.

“There are quite a few teams in contention and the top sides will be playing each other every week.

“There will be lots of twists and turns between now and the end of the season.”

Town will be without dependable captain Ian Sharps for tonight’s encounter – rearranged from Boxing Day – as he serves a one-match suspension for his sending off in Saturday’s goalless draw with Gillingham.

One possible option is to move Jermaine Grandison to centre half, which could pave the way for a first start for January recruit Kelvin Lomax if the former Oldham man is considered fully recovered from an ankle problem.

Turner could also hand a full debut to teenage defender Connor Goldson after two substitute outings.

Midfielder Sean McAllister is out with a hernia while full back David Raven may require one more reserve outing before being considered for first team duty.

But Dutch forward Benjamin van den Broek is back in contention after a lay-off with an ankle problem.

Goalkeeper Lee Nicholls and defender Paul Downing have returned to Wigan and West Brom respectively after initial one month loans.