ALAN Knill saw enough in a 300-mile round trip in midweek to know his side will have to be at their best to extend their unbeaten run to seven games at Blundell Park this weekend.

The Shakers boss travelled from the postponed game against Rotherham – via a League Managers’ Association meeting – to watch Grimsby in action against Barnet at Underhill on Tuesday night.

The match ended three apiece, leaving Knill optimistic his side can exploit the defensive gaps on show.

But, having seen Bury become the first to be beaten by the Mariners this season, with a 2-0 reverse at home back in November, he is wary of the dangers posed by Mike Newell’s men.

“It was a good game on Tuesday night,” he said. “It was pretty much an end-to-end game where both teams looked dangerous going forward but both looked as if they would concede. I think that’s why they are where they are.

“Grimsby are a decent side. Mike Newell has brought in quite a few personnel. There’s probably only four or five that played when they won at Gigg Lane. They are six unbeaten now, so they are vastly-improved.”

The Shakers lie third in League Two with lofty ambitions. While no-one is making predictions of promotion, automatic or otherwise, Knill is in no mood to waste their superb start to the season.

“I’m not saying it’s going to be a foregone conclusion but Saturday is a big opportunity for us,” he said.

“We have to stay focussed on what we want. And that’s as many points as we can get, as quickly as possible.”

Only Ben Futcher has been ruled out , although the big defender has made a rapid recovery from a hamstring injury that looked at one point to have ruled him out until April. The centre-half could now be in contention next week.

Dave Buchanan and Andy Morrell have recovered from minor knocks to take their place in the squad.