Shrewsbury Town put on alert over Ryan Lowe

Former Town player Lowe has already netted 14 times in 26 matches this season for Ronnie Moore's strugglers, who will start the game three places and three points below 17th-placed Shrewsbury.

And Turner is fully aware of the threat the well-travelled 35-year-old can pose.

He said: "He has scored a fair few this season. We know he's a livewire and capable of scoring goals – and as an opposition player, he's a flaming nuisance.

"But he's like that – he can be quiet and then suddenly pop up in a crucial position and finish off a chance.

"So we know what to expect and we've got to be able to deal with it."

Lowe netted 32 league goals for Shrewsbury during a stay of nearly five years between July 2000 and March 2005.

Midfielder James Wallace will be another familiar face in the Tranmere squad, having played three times in a brief loan spell at Town during their promotion-winning campaign in 2011/12.

The match will form the first half of another potentially-pivotal home double header, with promotion-chasing Preston North End the visitors three days later.

A rearranged home game against Leyton Orient will follow on January 7 after Town's New Year's Day trip to Oldham, and Turner said: "It's vital, particularly with our home matches, that we take points.

"I've known the Tranmere manager Ronnie Moore for a long time and his sides are always very competitive and strong physically. We know what to expect from Tranmere.

"Preston follow them and they're capable of making a promotion challenge this season.

"There are two tough games there but they're two games we're capable of winning."

Tranmere will arrive in poor form having lost their last three games including a 2-1 home loss to Gillingham last on Friday.

But Turner said: "We take nothing for granted. But we are at home and we have got two decent games coming here, and we have to cash in on them."