BURY should not be written off too early ahead of Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round clash with Championship table-toppers Hull City, says manager David Flitcroft.

The Shakers are yet to concede in four matches in the competition this season following victories over Wigan, Rochdale and Bradford in the previous rounds.

And after defying all the odds to win with 10 men at the Bantams in their third-round replay, Flitcroft is confident his side have an equal chance against the Tigers this weekend.

“I don't really like using the word underdog,” he said.

“It is 11 versus 11. They have got great quality, but it is 11 v 11 and everybody has got a fair and equal chance before the game to win the game.

“Our players, they won't need no motivation.

"They are professional here and they try to do things the right way.

“We will have to be strong, we will have to be resolute and we will have to be as one.

"We will have to have no chinks because we are going to have to be at our best to compete with a team at that level.

“We will be ready for three o'clock on Saturday, that's for sure.”

Flitcroft will get the chance to pit his wits against a manager with plenty of Premier League experience in Steve Bruce.

But the Bury boss was keen to emphasise that although he is looking forward to the test, it is more important for his side to competitive than his personal challenge against the former Manchester United defender.

“I don't think it's a personal thing,” he said. “It's Bury football club versus Hull. I have got the ultimate respect for Steve Bruce and Mike Phelan – not just for what they have done at Man United but what they have done at their respective clubs.

“Steve Bruce for me is a Premiership manager, he should be plying his trade in the Premiership.

"I hold him in the highest esteem. I think there are top, top English managers out there and Steve Bruce is one of them.

“I think from a personal point of view I will be setting up a team to be competitive against Hull and it doesn't really matter who the manager is.”

Meanwhile, the transfer window shuts on Monday and Joe Riley's future at Gigg Lane still remains unclear.

The 24-year-old has been absent from the last two matchday squads amidst interest in the right-back's services, reportedly from Leyton Orient.

But Flitcroft said: “It's transfer deadline on Monday, and as of yet he is still a Bury player.

“We have had an interest from a club and we spoke to Joe about it. That's something that we are monitoring.”

Reports from the local press in Southend suggest the Shrimpers have rejected an offer from Bury for winger David Worrall.

The former Shakers youth-team graduate is Flitcroft's top target to add quality in the wide-midfield position following the return of Joe Dodoo to his parent club Leicester City in December.