KIDDERMINSTER Harriers are hoping Adie Smith can win his race against time to be fit for tonight's Nationwide League Division Three clash at rock-bottom Halifax Town (7.45).

He missed Saturday's 3-1 home win over Exeter City because of an ankle injury picked up in training.

Manager Jan Molby, whose side is just four points off the play-off zone, said: "Smith's one of the players who has a chance of returning. It's 70-30 in favour of him playing."

As well as long-term injury victim Mark Blake (Achilles tendon), Kidderminster will again be without Richie Appleby (hamstring), Scott Stamps (groin) and Andy Ducros (ankle).

Bo Henriksen, who missed the win over Exeter because of a hamstring problem, is again doubtful while Colin Larkin could also be ruled out tonight.

He had to be substituted during the second half on Saturday because of a foot injury.

Sam Shilton, who also had to be replaced during the closing stages against Exeter with a hamstring problem, should be fit.

Molby, meanwhile, is warning his players to be on their guard against complacency tonight.

He fully expects The Shaymen to battle every inch of the way in their bid to end a disastrous run of 12 matches without a win.

It has left them in need of a massive upturn in fortunes to avoid relegation.

Molby said: "They are fighting for their lives. They are now 12 points adrift, but they still have a chance of staying up although they obviously know they need to win an awful lot of games.

"You always have sympathy for people at the bottom but over the season of 46 games you end up where you more or less deserve to.

"They are tailing off a bit. Normally it's a real nail-biting finish to whoever is going down, but this year at the moment they look a side who are in serious trouble.

"It's a warning to everybody because in the last four years, if Halifax are relegated, we have had three former Conference champions go down.

"There was Scarborough a few years ago and Barnet last year and if Halifax go down there is a warning that sometimes the Conference champions won't do well.

"The key for us tonight will be to get an early goal and try and settle down."

Leading scorer Ian Foster is hoping to help Harriers play-off push by gunning down Halifax for the second time this season, having bagged both goals when The Shaymen lost 2-0 at Aggborough earlier this season.

FORMCAST: Harriers to win 2-0.