MICKY Adams believes his rejuvenated Vale side are in just the right mood to end Shrewsbury Town's 11-month unbeaten home run.

The Shrews haven't lost on home soil since March 1, 2011 when they were beaten 3-0 by Bury – and have won 10 and drawn the other three of their 13 league matches at the Greenhous Meadow this season.

The impressive run has helped Graham Turner's men rise to fourth in the table, trailing the automatic promotion places by a point.

But the Valiants head to Shropshire on Saturday (1pm) in buoyant mood after claiming back-to-back 1-0 wins over Rotherham United and Plymouth.

And revenge will also be on the agenda after Shrewsbury secured a 3-2 victory in Burslem in September.

"We'll be playing a Shrewsbury side which is flying high," said Adams.

"Not only are they in the play-off places, but they are pushing to finish in the top three.

"I wouldn't rule out them achieving that because they've got a very astute manager, a good squad and they're home record suggests it's going to be a tough old game.

"But I still maintain that in this division anybody can beat anybody else on their day....so let's hope we have a good day.

"I'm pleased that we're going there on the back of a couple wins because confidence in the camp is high.

"But we don't take that for granted.

"We know how difficult it's going to be, but at least we're going there in a positive frame of mind and that's important."

Vale strikers Marc Richards (ankle) and Tom Pope (groin) were rested from training yesterday to protect their injuries.

But Adams has already ruled out crocked defensive duo Gareth Owen (broken hand) and Lee Collins (ankle) from featuring in Shropshire and hinted that he will select the same side which beat Plymouth with Pope's late goal at the weekend.

Adams has been denied the funds to strengthen his depleted squad ahead of today's 11pm January transfer window deadline.

But with the loan market set to re-open next week Adams remains relaxed over his long-term recruitment strategy to keep Vale in the hunt for a play-off place at the end of the campaign.

"I've got to take it day-by-day and see what happens," said Adams, whose side are two points off the top seven.

"I'm led to believe the football club is progressing behind the scenes.

"The end of the transfer window doesn't mean a great deal to clubs at our level unless we were going to buy someone.

"I don't think the window closing will have any detrimental effect on recruitment for Vale.

"The fact is that if we don't sign anybody today, we've then only got to wait another week before we have the opportunity to sign somebody.

"So it just means we go into Saturday's game with the same squad that we had at the weekend.

"I'm not frustrated, it's just part of being a manager at this level.

"You're always on the look out to improve your squad and whether you can do that is sometimes down to circumstances including money.

"It's just another day in the life of a League Two manager."

VALE'S Midland Youth Cup semi-final at Lincoln City will take place on Wednesday, February 15. The match will kick-off at 7pm.

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