THERE looks like being an embarrassment of striking riches for Shakers caretaker boss Chris Casper ahead of Saturday's home clash against Lincoln City (3pm).
Casper expects both Matthew Tipton (groin) and Jon Newby (hamstring) to have recovered from injury giving him fresh options as he hopes to make it six points from two home games this week.
Tuesday night's confidence-building victory over Bristol Rovers have given everyone at Gigg Lane a massive boost and Casper is determined to build on the win, at the expense of Keith Alexander's no-nonsense side.
"We really have to focus on Saturday's game now and make sure we don't let Tuesday's result go to waste," explained Casper.
"It was great to get that result but we can't get carried away, I just hope the players get the winning feeling regularly again.
"They have been reminded what it is like to win and we had an upbeat dressing room after the game.
"I told the players that they needed to take responsibility and, fair play, they did that. It was a good performance and they fully deserved their win."
The caretaker-boss has been very pleased with the attitude of the squad since the departure of Graham Barrow.
And it was very evident on Tuesday night that the team aren't feeling sorry for themselves in their plight.
"Credit has to go to the senior professionals at the club," added Casper.
"They have led by example, got on with the job and the younger lads have responded.
"We've worked on defending from the front and keeping things at a high tempo.
"It was important that we got ourselves off the bottom too."
The Imps will be without two of their first team regulars in goalkeeper Alan Marriott and defender Paul Morgan who were both sent off at Torquay last week.
Fellow defender Lee Beevers also received his marching orders at Plainmoor but served his one-match ban in the 2-0 victory over Stockport on Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, Casper is putting thoughts of the vacant manager's position to the back of his mind although he has had a re-think after initially declining to throw his hat into the ring.
"I can't think about things like that at present, I am just concentrating on the Lincoln game and preparing for that," he said.
"My application was always going to be performances and results, that's all I can do really.
"Having Newby and Tipton back for the weekend is going to cause me some problems, but good ones.
"Two more players back means fiercer competition and that's what we are looking for.
"Our results reflect our position in the league but I don't think our performances do.
"We have played some good stuff and haven't looked like a bottom of the table side."
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