IS it too late for Harriers to conjure up a survival miracle?

Kidderminster Harriers will be relegated for the first time in their history this weekend -- unless they can magic up a miracle run of results starting with victory at Boston and defeat for Rushden at Darlington.

Harriers go into their final three League Two games effectively needing maximum points and praying that their old foes Rushden slip up.

Just one win for Rushden would condemn Harriers to the Conference regardless of their own results. With Rushden's goal difference of minus 17 much superior to Kidderminster's minus 37, only a late goals rush would save Harriers if the two teams finished level on points.

The only other permutations that will keep Kidderminster up are:

l Two wins and a draw for Harriers with Rushden suffering three straight defeats.

l Three wins for Harriers with Rushden taking two points or less.

Boss Stuart Watkiss admitted the clock was now ticking on Kidderminster's Football League future after five seasons.

"When I came in the million dollar question was will you run out of time to turn it around and you would have to say yes it probably looks that way now.

"But we just have to make sure by hook or by crook that we are still alive at 5pm on Saturday.

"The only way we can do that is to get a better result than Rushden because it would be unforgivable if they slip up and we fail to take advantage of it. It's come to the point where we need three wins and realistically nothing less will do."

The only time Harriers have been demoted in their 119 year history was in 1960 - at their own request. The club asked to be downgraded to te Birmingham League for financial reason after finishing second from bottom in the old Southern League.

But going out of the Football League, which now seems inevitable, would be the first time they have been relegated during a history which has seen more peaks than troughs as they have worked their way up the pyramid.

Johnny Mullins has returned to his parent club Reading for treatment on the hamstring injury he sustained during the agonising 1-1 draw with leaders Yeovil last Saturday.

The popular loan defender is likely to have played his last game for Harriers despite the problem not being as serious as first feared.

Other than long-standing injuries for Gary Birch and Ian Foster, Kidderminster also have slight worries over Tom Bennett who expects to overcome hip trouble to face his former club and John McGrath who has damaged his toe.

Watkiss has been running the rule over released Port Vale striker Simon Eldershaw in training this week as he plans for next season.

Harriers have revealed their programme of pre-season friendlies.

Saturday July 9 Stourport Swifts (a) 2pm; Tuesday July 12 Bromsgrove Rovers (a) kick off to be confirmed; Saturday July 16 Wolves (h) 3pm; Tuesday July 19 Walsall (h) 7.30pm; Tuesday July 26 Worcester City (a) 7.45pm; Monday August 1 Sheffield Wednesday (h) kick off to be confirmed.