CENTRE-half Mark Jackson could bolster Kidderminster Harriers' error-prone defence in tomorrow's crucial Coca-Cola League Two visit to Shrewsbury Town.

Harriers boss Stuart Watkiss has been unhappy with sloppy defending, leading to defeats by Chester City, Scunthorpe United, Oxford United and Macclesfield Town over the last five weeks.

And Watkiss believes Harriers must be ready for yet another battle at Gay Meadow if they are to make up any ground on the Shrews or Rushden and Diamonds in the place directly above them.

The second-from-bottom Aggborough men are due a victory tomorrow if they keep up the current "win, lose, lose" sequence that has gone on for the vast part of Watkiss' reign since early December.

After missing out on Mansfield Town winger Wayne Corden, who has signed for promotion-chasing Scunthorpe until the end of next season, Watkiss has instead opted for a bid to strengthen the centre of his defence.

Jackson has been restricted to the Scunthorpe substitutes bench recently but the 27-year-old has previously been a mainstay of the Lincolnshire outfit's defence and captained the side.

The former Leeds United player has more than 180 career appearances under his belt and Watkiss was hoping to complete his signing today.

Harriers are already in danger of being without in-form striker Gary Birch (knee), defender Wayne Hatswell (knee) and midfielder Dean Keates but the versatile Lee Jenkins (ankle) should be fit.

And Watkiss has made two young players, centre-half Chris McHale and midfielder Jamie Gleeson, available for transfer in order to create room for new signings.

Reserve left-back Steve Burton has turned down a loan move to Conference high-fliers Accrington Stanley until the end of the season.

But striker Iyseden Christie, on the comeback trail, could give Harriers a boost by being a surprise inclusion on the bench tomorrow in a game that is not likely to be pleasing to the eye.

Watkiss admitted: "It's well documented that the pitch there isn't good. I've been told by other managers to not even contemplate playing football because it's in such a state.

"When you hear that, it dictates your gameplan and I think it's going to be a right, old-fashioned ding-dong and definitely not one for the purists.

"It's a local derby and when you consider what's at stake, the state of the pitch and put all that in the mixer, we expect it to be a right old battle."

Shrewsbury are 10 points ahead of Harriers and have found some form recently, going unbeaten in three games.

They are likely to field former Harriers loan striker Kelvin Langmead who scored the winner in Kidderminster's 3-2 triumph over Scunthorpe earlier this season.

The Shrews won 1-0 at Aggborough in October and a repeat result would be a major setback in Harriers' fight against relegation.