RAMSBOTTOM United step up their pre-season build-up with a home friendly against Bury on Wednesday.

But they first visit Walshaw SC tonight before making the short journey to Elton Vale on Saturday as manager Lee Sculpher continues to assess a crop of up to 10 trailists before their campaign gets underway against Maine Road at the Riverside on August 11.

Sculpher is predictably keen to improve on last year's finish of eighth place in the North West Counties League Division One.

But his cause was not helped on Tuesday night when they went down 4-1 at home to Unibond side Chorley with the back-from-injury Rams man Anthony Johnson turning in a performance which was one of the few positives for his boss.

He has kept his faith with most of last season's squad, but is hoping to add new blood from the hopefuls attempting to force their way into the club in the friendly matches.

Bury will provide the toughest test, but Sculpher is looking forward to seeing how his charges cope against the League Two full-time side.

"We've played Bury pre-season for the last two seasons and had two close encounters," he said.

"They generally send a mixed side down, because it's close to the start of their season as well.

"Obviously, with Bury being a professional outfit, you would expect them to be fitter than us and with more ability. But it gives us a gauge as to how well we've prepared ourselves through the summer as well.

"We've been training ourselves twice a week since the beginning of July, and we've had some friendlies, some of which have been postponed due to the weather, which is very unusual."

Sculpher must make a his decision on which trailists he wants to sign in the next few days as he bids to get the Rams off to a better start to the season than they managed in the last campaign.

He added: "I'm hoping to sign about four or five of the new lads.

"We did OK last season, but it's like with any club, you always expect or want your team to be in the top part of the table.

"Above all, we've got to get off to a better start this time, as we were always playing catch-up last season.

"So it's vital that in the first six games we pick up quite a number of points."

Ramsbottom follow up their opening game against Maine Road with a mouth-watering derby at local rivals Bacup four days later.

And the FA Cup preliminary round draw has been kind to them - they face Asthton Town of the North West Counties Division Two on August 18 and will fancy their chances of progressing.