COLCHESTER United have a chance to put another nail in Bury’s relegation coffin, while boosting their own hopes of beating the drop, at Gigg Lane tomorrow

However, manager Joe Dunne does not believe this fixture is any bigger than the seven games to follow.

“I don’t think Saturday is any bigger game than the rest,” confirmed Dunne.

“I’ve got people telling me that it is, but there’s still 24 points to play for, so there will be plenty still after Saturday.

“It’s a game we want to win, but it’s no different to the following Saturdays. Obviously it would help, in terms of our survival, if we won, but that would be the case if it were against anybody else.

“They are all big games,” added Dunne.

The U’s reached 40 points, with Tuesday night’s 2-2 draw at Coventry City, to leave Dunne’s men four points clear of the relegation zone although, crucially, fourth-from-bottom Oldham do have three games in hand.

Saturday’s hosts Bury are rock bottom, on 30 points.

“We’ve got to 40 (points) now, and we can chase 50,” insisted Dunne.

“I think we are playing well, and doing well. The goals we are conceding are down to individual errors, rather than anything tactical.”

The U’s will again be without the influential trio of Jabo Ibehre, Freddie Sears and Tom Eastman for tomorrow’s test at Bury, while a few other players are struggling with a virus.

However, Ibehre will be available for the following Saturday’s home game against MK Dons – he serves the third of his three-match ban at Bury – and there is also a good chance that fellow striker Sears will be fighting fit again, after a worrying knee injury.

The return of those two key players would be a big boost for the U’s, during their run-in.

“Freddie should be back for MK Dons, hopefully. It’s just how he responds to the upping of his training,” said Dunne.