Ryan Woods out to help new Shrewsbury Town boss Mike Jackson get off to a flying start

The trip to Meadow Lane will Jackson's first game as permanent boss after neing appointed until the end of the season today.

Chairman Roland Wycherley had handed him the reins for three games initially and then extended that to five but has now placed faith in Jackson for the rest of the campaign.

The retired former defender has pieced together just two points from a possible 12 in his four games in charge. But several of the club's players had spoken out in favour of Jackson staying on.

And Woods insists they will give their all tomorrow to help give him the possible start as full-time manager.

He said: "We all want to do well, not just for ourselves but for the club and obviously for Jacko as well.

"We want to work our socks off and just try to do the best we can.

"But obviously from watching us play, I presume that they knew we wanted him to stay on and take charge."

While Jackson's position has been resolved for now, Woods admits Town will need little motivation for a game which could have major ramifications in the League One relegation fight.

Town will enter the match second from bottom, three points from safety while the Magpies will start just two points and one place better off, having played a game more.

Woods said the chance to overhaul one of their rivals in the drop zone would provide yet another incentive.

"We go into every game thinking we can win," he said. "This one has got a bit more of an incentive on it because of where they are in the league as well as us."

Town shaded this season's earlier encounter between the teams 1-0 at the Greenhous Meadow back in November.

It was a tough encounter, and a bruising one for midfielder Aaron Wildig who was stretchered off with a knee injury after a tackle by midfielder Andre Boucard.

But Woods said the players would take heart from that result.

He said: "It was a good game. Luckily enough we managed to win that one, so hopefully we can do the same again tomorrow.

"Obviously it gives you an extra push if you have beaten a team already but we can beat anybody on our day any way.

"We will go there with our heads held high knowing that we can win again."

Quite what formation and line-up Jackson fields remains to be seen.

He played 3-4-3 last weekend against Port Vale, with four first-team regulars dropped to the bench.

And Woods said that such bold selection changes have lead to a heightened sense of competition within the squad ahead of the weekend.

He said: "Obviously There's been a lot of changes being made. You have got to have every player fighting for position and I think that has been happening in the last couple of weeks."

But Town' options this time will be limited by a knee injury to striker Tom Bradshaw in training on Monday.

Bradshaw was due to have a scan on the injury today although Jackson has said it could be a couple of days until the extent of the damage is known.

However, left-back Joe Jacobson, who missed last weekend with a side strain, ireturned to training this week.