We're through to the next round of the LDV after that exciting win against Swindon on Tuesday and now we'll be aiming to do likewise tomorrow against Rushden.

This one will be just as tough and we'll be doing it without the services of John Melligan and Scott Stamps.  As expected 'JJ' has been stopped playing by the Wolves manager, Dave Jones, and has now been added to the squad for the Coventry game at midday tomorrow.  If he doesn't get to play, and hopefully he will at some stage, Dave Jones still wouldn't want him being cup tied.

We are going to find it difficult without him but if Dean Bennett is fit he should go some way to making up for it.

Stamper will miss the game after hobbling off during the first half on Tuesday with a recurrence of his groin injury.  He will probably be out for the next month due to his suspension, for last weeks sending off, kicking in.

Both Adie Smith and Bo Henriksen made it to the bench mid-week with Bo coming on for a few minutes.  Adie should be taking Scotts place and Bo should be able to reclaim his place from Ian Foster, who has looked out of sorts in the last two games he's played in.

Other doubts for the big game are Craig Hinton and Stuart Brock.  They both have ankle injuries but are responding well to treatment

An old friend of ours will be making a return to his old stamping ground and it'll only be right that he's given a warm welcome by ALL Harriers fans.

In the short time he was here Marcus Bignot became one of the most best loved Harriers players of all time.  Not quite as much as the Wassells, Paul Webb, Ocker and Lee Hughes but at the same level as Richard Forsyth and Martin Weir.

Earlier in the season we played Rushden at Nene Park and went down 3-1 in a bad tempered game (some things don't change!) that saw Drewe Broughton getting sent off and Sean Flynn gifting them a own goal.

On the bench that day for Rushden was Tarkan Mustafa.  This week he dropped a letter on Brian Talbots desk asking for a transfer after finding his chances of first team football diminishing because of the arrival of Biggie.  It was grudgingly accepted.

They also thought that they would be without Paul Underwood after he injured his heel.  He surprisingly returned to action in last weeks victory over Darlington but will still need to see a specialist.  He should be in the squad for tomorrow.

Others missing tomorrow are:
Gary Mills - suspended
Andy Burgess - foot
Brett Solkhon - knee.

They may also be without Paul Hall who is thought to have been injured in training today but the club are not saying much about it, if true!

Teams

Harriers from:
Brock, Danby, Joy, Ayres, Smith, Hinton, Williams, Parrish, Sall, Flynn, Bennett, Shilton, Doyle, Foster, Broughton, Henriksen, Coleman, Lower.

Rushden from:
Turley, Sollitt, Gray, Peters, Hunter, Bignot, Tillson, Partridge, Sambrook, Setchell, Talbot, Dempster, Hanlon, Underwood, Darby, Wardley, Hall, Lowe, Bell, Duffy.