DANNY Nardiello knows he is not guaranteed a place in the starting line-up when Bury visit his former club Exeter tomorrow, despite helping fire the Shakers to the top of the League Two table.

The 31-year-old forward scored his second and third goals of the season after coming on as a second-half subsitute in last Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Burton Albion.

Nardiello replaced top scorer Danny Rose - who has five goals this season - while strike partner Ryan Lowe took his tally to four with his third goal in as many games.

Manager David Flitcroft must now perm two from his three in-form strikers for the trip to Exeter.

But whoever is given the nod, Nardiello believes Bury are blessed with some great attacking options.

“Between the three of us (Nardiello, Lowe and Rose) that’s 12 goals already,” he said.

“That’s three strikers who are scoring and we’ve got a couple more in Clive Platt and James Poole.

“We can’t argue with the goals we’re getting between us. If one’s not scoring then another one will.”

The former Manchester United is experienced enough to know that his time will come this season as Bury push for automatic promotion.

And he is grateful of the chance to ease back in gently after missing a handful of matches with a groin strain.

"Sometimes it's nice coming on and getting the whole second half because they've tired a bit and you're fresh,” he said.

“Rosey's shown it numerous times, coming on for the last half-an-hour, and he's destroyed teams.

“I had an injury early in the season and I've been on the bench.

“The other strikers have been on fire so you've got to wait for your chance.

"But I was especially glad to get two goals on Saturday because it was my mum's birthday.

“She always gives me grief for not scoring goals on her birthday so that'll shut her up for a couple of years."

Flitcroft told his players to enjoy looking at the League Two table after they knocked Burton off the summit last weekend, but it is back down to earth for tomorrow’s trip to St James’s Park.

Exeter struggled to get going this season, but back-to-back wins, including victory at Tranmere last time out, have moved them up to 20th place in the table.

"It's nice to be top of the league now, but it's a long season and we've got to be there at the end - that's what matters,” added Nardiello.

"We're aiming for that top spot, but the main goal is to get promotion and if we keep playing like we have been there's no reason why we can't do it, as long as we don't get complacent, we work hard and do our job every week."