JEFF Hughes hopes the decision to sit out Bristol Rovers' clash at Yeovil last weekend will pay dividends with a return to the side for this afternoon's game against Crewe Alexandra at the Memorial Stadium.

The Pirates decided not to risk the Northern Ireland international for the clash at Huish Park after he finished the previous outing at Cheltenham with a thigh strain.

But after resting the problem and returning to training on Thursday, left-winger Hughes is hoping to be able to get at a Crewe defence which has already conceded 18 times in just seven league outings.

"I felt the injury against Cheltenham but I couldn't come off because we had already used three subs," said Hughes. "It turned out to be a little bit worse than I thought, so missing last Saturday's game was a precaution more than anything.

"I thought it was better to miss one game than run the risk of being out for four to six weeks."

While Rovers go into the game as League One's leading scorers, they have already conceded 19 times – although they have played one game more than today's visitors.

"The reports I've seen on Crewe suggest they have been as bad at the back as us, so hopefully it will be a good game!" said Hughes.

"The defence has been the mainstay of our side in the past and the year the club went up, they only conceded 42 goals. Hopefully what has happened this season is just a blip.

"There are a lot of experienced players here and maybe those of us in midfield should help the defenders out a bit more – perhaps at times we have left them a bit exposed."

Rovers have been hit by illness in the build-up to the game and will make a late decision on whether leading scorer Rickie Lambert, who has been among those affected, will face the Railwaymen.

"We can't afford to lose Lambo because he's scored eight in eight so he's worth a goal a game to us," said Hughes.

"He's on fire and he's not only a big, awkward lad to play against but a great finisher.

"He and Darryl Duffy play well together and when Darryl gets a few more, I think we are going to do really well.

"Jo Kuffour got his first goal last weekend and is a different type of player from Darryl so he gives us other options.

"With Rickie, if you are under pressure and have to play a long ball then you know you have a better than 50 per cent chance of finding him.

"Because he is so strong in the air, he helps me a lot."

Hughes has scored twice for Rovers since a £120,000 move from Crystal Palace and admitted: "I could have had three times more than that if I hadn't missed a few sitters.

"But we are creating opportunitites and while we do that, we are always going to have a chance.

"Hopefully they will start going in for me again sooner rather than later."

Bristol Rovers (from): Phillips, R Green, Coles, Elliott, Lescott, Pipe, Campbell, Disley, Lines, Hughes, Duffy, Lambert, Kuffour, Hinton, Anthony, Hunt, M Green.