And manager Jim Vince is expected to have a look at a couple more trialists after fielding seven in Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Tamworth.

Bury, who drew 1-1 with Huddersfield Town at the weekend, are the highest ranked team Town will play before their Unibond League campaign gets underway.

And they are the only side that Vince's team will face on home soil.

But the Shay chief knows that he must continue the squad building process despite the standard of opposition.

"It is a prestigious friendly for the club," said Vince. "But I cannot afford not to have a look at trialists and there will be a couple in the squad tonight.

"It is one thing looking at players in training and quite another scenario when it comes to playing in matches.

"The contracted players contributed at Tamworth and we have cemented the quality in the team. It is a matter now of putting the rest of the jigsaw together."

Rob Scott will not be one of the missing pieces after he was unable to agree terms to join the new club having been released by the old.

The right back played the first 45 minutes at Tamworth on Saturday as a trialist and Vince revealed he offered him a deal.

"We wanted him to stay, but the proposal we put to him was not right for him," he said.

"We have got a competitive wage bill, but we cannot break the threshold.

"There was no fall out and we shook hands."

Given that tonight's game is only Halifax's second outing together, they will not be expected to overcome a Bury side under the tutelage of two former Shaymen, manager Alan Knill and his assistant Chris Wilder

But Vince is determined that his side should benefit from the challenge of playing the Shakers.

"The scoreline is irrelevant for me," said Vince. "As long as we get something out of the game.

"The players will get 45 to 60 minutes tonight and we still have a month before the season starts."

Phil Senior, who was the only contracted player not to appear at Tamworth, will be make his first appearance tonight.

The former Huddersfield keeper was unable to make the trip to the Lamb ground as he had afamily commitment

"Phil will be involved in some way this evening and play on Saturday at Alsager," said Vince.

In addition to Wilder, who spent six seasons in charge at the Shay before leaving for Gigg Lane at the start of this month, and fellow former Town man Knill, Bury could have two other former Shaymen in their squad this evening.

Steve Haslam, who missed the game against Huddersfield on Saturday with a toe injury, is starting his third season with them.

Haslam made 92 league appearances for the Shaymen and was in the side that played in the Conference play off final at Leicester.

And Ryan Cresswell, a substitute against the Terriers who played on loan at Halifax, recently signed from Sheffield United.

The centre back, who made 15 league appearances for Town in 2006-07, rejected the chance to join Hungarian outfit Ferencvaros to switch to Lancashire.

Admission prices for this evening's game are £6 for adults and £4 for concessions - 12 to 16s and over 65. Children 11 and under will be admitted free.

• SUPPORTERS wishing to travel to the pre-season friendly Alsager Town on Saturday can book their places on the coach by calling the travel line on 07707 143094. The cost will be £13 and transport leaves at 12 noon.