BURY Town boss Richard Wilkins admits the build-up to tonight’s John Banks Suffolk FA Premier Cup final at Portman Road has been “difficult” for his side.

While opponents Lowestoft Town have been dwelling on last Monday’s Ryman League Premier Division play-off final defeat, Wilkins and his players have been inactive since April 27 when the regular season ended.

It is 17 days since Bury last played a competitive match, and Wilkins said it had not been ideal preparation for the showpiece occasion, which kicks-off at 7pm.

He said: “We would have liked to have played the game a week ago, but Ipswich Town dictate when the final is played.

“It has been difficult since the end of the season, but we have trained a few times and we had a charity game at Newmarket last week which gave us a run-out.

“I don’t know what to expect from my lads. I will motivate them as much as I can before the match, but once they step out there I don’t know how they will respond.”

Bury will be bidding to avenge last year’s 4-2 final defeat to fierce rivals Lowestoft, when former Bury Town winger Chris Henderson scored twice in the second period as the Trawlerboys ended comfortable winners.

Wilkins recalled: “It was a strange final last year. We could have been 2-0 or 3-0 up after 20 minutes and they could have been down to 10 men. We also missed a penalty and then totally lost our way in the second half, especially defensively, and they were much better than us.

“Most of the lads who played in last year’s final will be playing again, and although it is not massively high on our list of priorities for both teams at the start of the season, it is a cup final and a chance to end with a trophy and be top dogs in Suffolk.”

Midfielder Connor Hall is ruled out by a groin injury which may require an operation while both Adam Tann and Warren Whitely are ineligible after being signed too late to feature in the final, so Bury are expected to include a couple of youngsters on the bench.

For updates on tonight’s final follow @Nick_Garnham on Twitter from around 6.30pm.