Crawley v Shrewsbury: Big game but not decisive says Salop boss

But they do have the 2-2 draw against Bolton last weekend they can look back on and take confidence from.

Shrewsbury have taken five points from their opening 10 League One games and this clash along with Rotherham’s trip to Peterborough are the only ones taking place this weekend due to the international break.

By the time their relegation rivals play again, Town will have played three more times than most of those around them and two more games than the others.

So the clash against Crawley – who were promoted from League Two last season – is a big one.

Hurst says nothing will be decided by the outcome of the match, but he does understand the importance of it.

“Nothing will be decided, and that is not me downplaying it,” he said. “Of course, it is a big game, because of where both clubs are.

“I have said, and I keep saying it, and whether people choose to really accept it, but the table has kind of taken shape to a degree in a lot of ways already.

“It is no surprise, we can all pretend and make different narratives up if we want, or we can just be brutally honest, and from that point of view, quite a few of the teams that are down there are what is expected.

“So we want to try and get points when we come up against those teams, that is only natural.

“In some ways, it doesn’t matter where you get your points, but when you come up against teams you think will be in that same area as yourselves then of course you want to make sure that you take something from the game. They have got some good footballers, they drew with Stockport there not so long ago, but we have got to go there with some confidence on the back of last Saturday.

“And some of the performances we have put in, albeit perhaps we have not quite got the points we could have from the last run of games.

“That is not talking about Tuesday night, that is talking about the league.”

Town switched to a back three for the game against Bolton, but reverted to a back four in midweek against Blues.

Hurst says there is not one formation that will suit every game and that they must adapt.

With Aaron Pierre and Luca Hoole both away on international duty, it is likely that Toto Nsiala will come into the back three should Hurst keep the same set-up as he did against Bolton.

The fact John Marquis came off at half-time in midweek, in a pre-planned substitution, would suggest a back three is the way Hurst is thinking.