FORM will be irrelevant when Bolton visit Gigg Lane for the first time in 17 years on Monday, according to Bury boss David Flitcroft.

The Shakers host their old enemy in front of the Sky Sports cameras but head into the game on the back of five consecutive defeats.

After a magnificent September, when Flitcroft won the league's manager of the month following five straight wins, they have since slipped from second to eighth in the table.

Wanderers, meanwhile, have recovered after a slump in form last month to move up to third place after winning their last four matches without conceding a goal.

“Form will go out of the window in a local derby, which is going to mean a lot to my players and the staff,” said Bolton-based Flitcroft.

“Form is up and down for all of the teams.

"Before the four games that Bolton have just won I think they hadn't won in nine games.

"In League One there are always strange results.”

Although the two sides have not been in the same division since the 1998/99 season, they did meet two years ago in the Capital One Cup, when the Shakers were leading going into stoppage time, only for Wanderers to equalise from the spot and go on to win the tie 3-2 after extra time.

Flitcroft was at the helm as current Bury midfielder Neil Danns netted twice for Bolton that evening, but he says this clash will mean a lot more in front of what is expected to be a packed-out Gigg Lane.

“It's different,” Flitcroft explained. “It's a different time and it's a different game. That was a cup game over at the Macron and it's a different experience.

“We are trying to drive the supporters in and I don't think we will have to for this one.

"I think they'll turn up in their numbers and it's fantastic for the supporters to have a game against Bolton.

“We have just got to make sure we are prepared and fully focused for what's going to be a fantastic game."

Midfielder Jacob Mellis is set to return from suspension for the game, but Wanderers loanee Tom Walker is ineligible to play.

Defender Kean Bryan will be missing following his red card in Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Rochdale, but the Bury boss is hopeful of possibly having “one or two” players return from injury.

Flitcroft said: “The extra few days preparation for the game will be great for the like of James Vaughan and Neil Danns.

"Hopefully we could also have one or two players back.”

Centre-back Leon Barnett looks closest to a return, with injured defenders Nathan Cameron and Craig Jones both ruled out long term.