STOURPORT Swifts are in the grips of an injury crisis ahead of their FA Trophy clash with Sutton Coldfield on Saturday.

Boss Dave Titterton is sweating on the fitness of half a dozen of his players for the first round tie at Walshes Meadow.

The manager himself was forced to pull on his boots as a second half substitute in Swifts defeat to Halesowen Town in midweek.

John Hayward is definitely sidelined for Saturday after limping off with knee ligament damage, while Mark Crisp is touch and go with an Achilles problem. There are also doubts over Jay Powell who had a scan on a head injury this week and Duncan Willetts who is struggling with his knee.

Titterton said: "We've got about 19 players in our squad, but with injuries to the five or six I have mentioned we're a bit short.

"I pulled my boots on the other night and I enjoyed it but it's not something I want to be having to do regularly."

Titterton will decide over the next few days whether to bolster his shallow squad by pursuing his interest in Bromsgrove striker Arthur Appleton.

In the meantime his attention is on preparing for Saturday's tie with Sutton Coldfield which could earn the club a lucrative pay-out.

"You're talking about £2,000 for the winners on Saturday and the chance of a nice draw in the next round," added Titterton.

Swifts have also been drawn away to Sutton Coldfield in round two of the Southern League Cup