Just over two weeks ago we travelled down to Aldershots near neighbours, then bottom side Crawley Town, and lost before coming back home to lose to new basement club Tamworth. This time we have got to win, or at the least draw, to avoid other people having a good laugh at our expense.
We saw a glimmer of light in the tunnel when we beat Morecambe last Saturday with a solitary goal from Gareth Sheldon but it was enough to guarantee the points for us. We now need to build on that.
Martin O'Connor should be ok to carry on inspiring the team tomorrow even though he didn't complete the full ninety minutes on Saturday. He has been undergoing light training this week but at his age and with his experience he doesn't need to learn anything new now. Michael Blackwood has had another slight pull to his hamstring and will undergo a fitness check to see if he can play against the Shots.
Our opponents will be without the services of Scott Guyett and Chris McPhee after their loan spells came to an end this week and also Tarkan Mustafa following his release from his contract.
Their captain, Steve Watson, will miss the next six weeks after being told he needs an operation on a groin injury, with surgery scheduled for next Wednesday. He has already had hip surgery in the summer but he has struggled for fitness this season.
They recently bought in Omari Coleman on loan from Lincoln City in a bid to boost their chances of getting out of the mess that they find themselves in this season. After taking part in last seasons play offs they, and their fans, must be bemused to find themselves struggling this season instead of taking up where they finished last term.
There's no doubting that, as one of the bigger sides in non league football, they are more worthy of a place at the foot of the table but, as we found last season, no club - no matter how big or small - has a given right to be at the top of the table just because of a large fan base or an illustrious history.
This game will be a good test of our team to see if they will stick to the passing football displayed against Morecambe and continue with the lessons learnt. I expect us to turn them over.
Two fringe players have gone out on loan to Alvechurch this week. Russell Penn and Jermaine Hollis have joined former Harriers player, and caretaker manager, Shaun Cunningtons team for an initial one month.
Teams:
Harriers from:
Danby, Lewis, Hatswell, Burgess, Evans, Burton, Ludlow, Jackson, O'Connor, Fleming, Graves, Heslop, Hurren, Russell, Christie, Atieno, Sheldon, Wilson, Blackwood, Thompson.
Aldershot from:
Bull, Weait, Barnard, Heald, Brough, Jinadu, Lee, Watson, Sills, Holloway, Hamilton, Sulaiman, Scott, Deen, Winfield, Crittenden, Boucaud, Nurse, Kitson, Reed, Somner, Coleman, Williams, Gearing.