STRIKER Steve Jones remains Crewe's huge doubt for Saturday's crunch clash with fierce rivals Stoke City.

The 28-year-old tweaked a hamstring at Gillingham and only has a 50-50 shot of making the most important derby in Alex history.

If there's a game to break over four months of misery at the Alexandra Stadium, it's this one.

Pride, Dave Brammer's inauspicious return and the rest aside, Crewe need three points to stop the rot and make huge strides in salvaging their Championship status.

Their most potent threat in recent weeks, the Alex want Jonah leading the charge.

"Steve Jones has a chance of making it," admitted boss Dario Gradi.

"He's recovered well from tweaking the fibres in his hamstring and could yet be available.

Jonah is one of four doubts as a result of Gillingham with Adie Moses (hamstring), Chris McCready (swollen knee) and Luke Varney (swollen ankle) also struggling.

"Luke's probably the biggest doubt after getting a whack on his ankle," he continued.

"On the positive side we've got Billy Jones back.

"He played well for the youth team in midfield while Rivo is back in training so we're not desperate.

"We could use Gary Roberts and Darren Moss is fine and raring to play."

Gradi believes his side can finally net that elusive win against the Potters.

"They'll be similar to Gillingham but they'll probably hit more balls down the channels," explained Gradi.

"I've not seen the lad (Kenwyne Jones) they've got on loan but it'll be interesting to see how he compares to Akinbiyi because he always gave us a lot of problems.

"On paper they should be stronger than us but we've given them a game in recent years.

"We've more or less kept step by step with them and we've been in this league when they weren't.

"Over the last six or seven years we've done better although obviously they have potential to catch up and go on.

"It'll be a good atmosphere and it's a game we'd like to win.

"We've got a good chance of winning it, it's not Arsenal. We're playing Stoke and we're not that far behind them."

Currently just one point ahead of the drop zone with three games to go, Gradi says his side can stay up.

"I said last week we could win all four and we could have won at Gillingham," he added.

"Although they will feel they had more shots, I think we had the better chances as usual.

"We can beat Stoke and we can win at Ipswich.

"It wasn't long ago when we went there and they were going for automatic promotion against little old Crewe.

"We won, they dropped into the play-offs and didn't go up.

"If we have to beat Coventry in that final game, we can."

And he insists the future remains bright.

"The good thing is that the club has got a good future even if we're all gone," he said.

"We're sound financially with some exciting players coming through further down.

"There'll be good football played at Crewe Alexandra for some years, it's exciting and obviously I'd like to be a part of it."