REJUVENATED midfielder Jacob Mellis is backing his team to bounce back from last weekend's defeat to Scunthorpe with victory in Saturday's televised match at Peterborough.

Mellis is building promising partnership with Tom Soares in the heart of the Shakers' midfield, but both players are suspended for this weekend's clash with the Posh after picking up their fifth yellow cards of the season against the Iron.

The two absentees will undoubtedly be missed, but Mellis is confident there is enough quality in the squad to cover their suspensions, with the likes of Neil Danns, Kelvin Etuhu and Andrew Tutte all vying for a starting spot.

“Me and Soaresy were building a good relationship in the middle but we're both suspended against Peterborough so that's a bit disappointing,” Mellis said. “I love playing in there with Soaresy. We're close off the pitch and we are close on it as well.

"I know if I'm battling my boy will come in behind me and vice versa.

“You don't want to miss any game but we have got players like Danns, Kelvin and Tutte. They're chomping at the bit so they'll take over the baton.

“With all the central midfield boys we respect each other.

"We know everyone of us has got different qualities and sometimes you're not always going to play because there's so many good players in there.”

The 25-year-old struggled for game time last season, making only 14 league starts as injuries struck.

After a good pre-season, the midfielder has started nine of the 11 league games this campaign and says he hopes to repay the faith shown in him by manager David Flitcroft.

“The gaffer has given me the confidence to go out there and play,” Mellis said. “I am a lot fitter now, I can cover the distance and the stats are showing that.

“Hopefully I can repay the gaffer by giving him a good year this year because last year I was just like a body, I wasn't contributing and I'm glad that I am this year.

“I had quite a few injuries, niggley ones here and there – a dead leg, hamstrings – but I stayed in over the summer with Tom Walsh and hopefully I've rectified that now.”