A circular surgical stapling device including: an elongated pusher link having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, a distal end, annular portions (74e, 74f) adjacent its respective proximal and distal ends, and an elongated intermediate portion between and in communication with the annular portions; a firing actuator located proximally of and coupled to the proximal end of the pusher link; a shell assembly operatively associated with the distal end of the pusher link, the shell assembly housing a plurality of staples and having an elongated member that is connectable to an anvil assembly; an elongated tubular shaft having an elongated bore for housing the pusher link, and a pair of elongated substantially flat extension members (34, 36) housed in and along a diameter of the tubular shaft; wherein a portion of the intermediate portion of the pusher link has a U-shape configuration when viewed in vertical section taken transverse to the longitudinal axis of the pusher link, the U-shaped configuration including a substantially flat bottom wall that is parallel to, disposed to one side of and adjacent to the diameter of the tubular shaft, each end of the bottom wall having an adjoining upstanding side wall that extends transversely through the diameter and along a portion of the interior surface of the bore of the tubular shaft, the bottom wall having a thickness that is less than half of the radius of the bore of the tubular shaft, characterized in that the extension members (34, 36) are disposed along the diameter of the tubular shaft adjacent the bottom wall of the pusher link and confined by the adjoining upstanding side walls. an elongated pusher link having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, a distal end, annular portions (74e, 74f) adjacent its respective proximal and distal ends, and an elongated intermediate portion between and in communication with the annular portions; a firing actuator located proximally of and coupled to the proximal end of the pusher link; a shell assembly operatively associated with the distal end of the pusher link, the shell assembly housing a plurality of staples and having an elongated member that is connectable to an anvil assembly; an elongated tubular shaft having an elongated bore for housing the pusher link, and a pair of elongated substantially flat extension members (34, 36) housed in and along a diameter of the tubular shaft; wherein a portion of the intermediate portion of the pusher link has a U-shape configuration when viewed in vertical section taken transverse to the longitudinal axis of the pusher link, the U-shaped configuration including a substantially flat bottom wall that is parallel to, disposed to one side of and adjacent to the diameter of the tubular shaft, each end of the bottom wall having an adjoining upstanding side wall that extends transversely through the diameter and along a portion of the interior surface of the bore of the tubular shaft, the bottom wall having a thickness that is less than half of the radius of the bore of the tubular shaft, characterized in that the extension members (34, 36) are disposed along the diameter of the tubular shaft adjacent the bottom wall of the pusher link and confined by the adjoining upstanding side walls.