Summer's finally here and with it comes the big kick off.    Tomorrow Aldershot Town have volunteered to be our first victims of the new campaign but knowing our luck it could be another St Albans disaster.

Last opening day our new look side took to the field following a, somewhat overlong, rallying speech from John Davies that backfired almost from the first whistle.    The Conference new boys had raced into an un-assailable half time lead and it was only thanks to Jeff Kenna with a slightly face saving free kick that saw us get a goal back.

What followed for the remainder of the opening games was frankly poor but we did pick up a few points - Burton, Northwich and Rushden - to stop us slumping to the bottom of the table.    We weren't that far off it though.

Tomorrow could see official debuts for Justin Richards, John Munday, Dean Coleman and Matthew Barnes-Homer (Sponsored by the Friends of Harriers Online) and returns to Aggborough for Andy Ferrell and Paul Bignot.

We'll be without Simon Russell who has a groin injury but the captain, Stuart Whitehead is on his way back and could make an appearance either tomorrow or at Stafford this coming Tuesday.    Jonny Harkness is still out suspended after getting a four game ban for a sending off towards the end of last season and he will also miss the Stafford game.

Watching from the stands will be the manager Mark Yates following his match ban after the Exeter game last season.    A four match ban was his punishment for taking a swing at Lee Elam.    He might get a better view of the game from up there and see what we see.

Aldershot will be hoping to improve on last seasons mid table finish, one place above us, and with new manager Gary Waddock and a host of new faces they look primed for improvement.    Goalkeeper Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz, defenders Jason Milletti, Anthony Charles and Ben Harding together with midfield men Lewis Chalmers and Scott Davies along with strikers Anthony Straker, Rob Elvins and Rob Gier.    Quite a buying spree!

Missing for them will be Ryan Williams (cruciate ligament), Ryan Scott (broken leg) and Rick Newman (knee injury).

I think with our signing's we look to have a better squad than this time last season and now have more real strength in depth - something that was cruelly missing at Wembley.

We have as good a chance as any to win tomorrows game and get our season off with a bang but Aldershot look strong too and will be no pushover.    This game could end up points shared.





Harriers from:
Bevan, Coleman, Kenna, Bignot, Creighton, Whitehead, Munday, McGrath, Ferrell, Hurren, Penn, Richards, Blackwood, Barnes-Homer, Smikle, Christie, Constable.

Aldershot from:
Bull, Wells, Charles, Straker, Harding, Hylton, Winfield, Smith, Milletti, Grant, Dixon, Hudson, Chalmers, Soares, Jaime-Ruiz, Day, Elvins, Gier, Davies.