Kidderminster Harriers were relegated out the Football League ten seasons ago, but have only made the play-offs once in that period – losing out to Wrexham over two legs in 2013.

Last season saw Steve Burr – who had been in charge at Aggborough for four years – sacked and replaced by former Coventry City boss Andy Thorn in January.

The former Wimbledon player’s tenure was short and unsuccessful, overseeing just three wins in ten games before being sacked and replaced by current incumbent Gary Whild.

It is perhaps testament to the unity of the squad that Harriers still finished seventh last season – just five points outside the play-offs and a place above the Bees.

Whild, who has previous managerial experience with Redditch United and Stourport Swifts, had been assistant to former boss Burr prior to his elevation and had been responsible for plucking a number of young talents from local clubs and bringing them to Kiddy.

As well as younger players who have developed under the watchful eye of Whild, there are a number of proven performers amongst the Harriers squad.

One such example is striker Michael Gash, who has made a name for himself as a regular net-botherer in the Conference.

The 28-year-old had a distinctly average strike-rate at both Ebbsfleet United and York City, before a return to second club Cambridge United in 2011 paid dividends.

Despite hitting 20 goals in just 59 league starts for The U’s, Gash was allowed to join Kidderminster on loan towards the back end of the 2012/13 and immediately impressed, netting six in just ten starts.

A permanent move followed last summer and has since scored 13 in 41 league starts for Kiddy and finished with 14 in all competitions last season.

Further striking competition has been added in the form of ex-Forest Green Rovers and Wycombe Wanderers hitman Reece Styche.

The one-cap Gibraltar international scored 34 times in 72 league starts for the Green, before joining League 2 Wanderers on loan at the end of last season, but was unable to score in 14 appearances.

Styche, 25, had also represented England ‘C’ before electing to represent Gibraltar – for whom he qualifies for through his grandmother. The Sutton Coldfield-born forward has also turned out for Hednesford Town, Grantham Town, Coalville, Shepshed Dynamo and Chasetown.

At the back, vastly-experienced centre-half Josh Gowling spent much of his career in the Football League before moving to Aggborough in 2012. The 30-year-old is Harriers’ captain and this summer took on the dual responsibility of coaching too.

Coventry-born Gowling began his career with West Bromwich Albion before stints with Danish sides Herfølge and Ølstykke.

Gowling returned to England with Bournemouth in 2005, before leaving for a brief spell with Carlisle United in 2008. After two years at Gillingham from 2009 to 2011, the 6ft 3in defender spent a season at Lincoln City before joining Kiddy in 2012.

Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Welling United was their fifth at home this term, with only two victories picked up away from home.

Despite that, Kiddy still boast the tenth-best form away from this season, juxtaposed against Barnet’s home form, which is the fourth-best in the Conference.

Goals have proved a particular problem away from home, with Harriers the third-lowest scorers on the road in the Conference – netting just four in seven fixtures.

The issue is highlighted by the fact centre-half Cheyenne Dunkley is the club’s top scorer with four goals in 14 outings this term.

Likely Kidderminster Harriers XI: Lewis; Hodgkiss, Dunkley, Gowling, Green; Byrne, Storer, Verma, Johnson; Reid, Gash.