JAN Molby believes the next four days could be the most crucial of the season for his table-topping Kidderminster Harriers side.

Tomorrow's home clash with Stevenage Borough (3.00) is followed by a testing trip to Doncaster Rovers next Tuesday.

And Molby knows Harriers need to pick up maximum points to maintain their slender lead over Nationwide Conference title rivals Rushden and Diamonds.

Molby said: "It is a very important period for us which will really test us.

"We have managed to stay up at the top for a while, we lost it for a week but then managed to get back on top again, and psychologically that is very important for the players. We now want to keep hold of it."

Harriers will be looking to record their 13th home win of the season, a record no other side can match.

Sixth-placed Stevenage lost 3-0 at home to Hereford United in midweek and yesterday sacked their manager Richard Hill. Bob Makin will be in temporary charge tomorrow.

But they are a different proposition when they play away from home.

He said: "They have the second best away record in the league after Rushden. It will be tough but the league has been very competitive all season, and there is no reason to assume it will change now."

Harriers' 2-0 win at Stevenage back in September, which they achieved despite having goalkeeper Tim Clarke sent off on his debut, proved the turning point of their season and they have seldom looked back since.

Molby should have an unchanged squad to choose from, with defender Adie Smith reporting back fit after being a late call-up to play for the England non-league side in Italy in midweek, helping them to a 1-1 draw.

It is also a big four days for fellow title-chasers Rushden, who visit Kingstonian tomorrow before entertaining Scarborough on Tuesday.

But Molby said he is not too concerned with how Rushden get on. "All we can worry about is what we do."

Harriers (from): Clarke, Clarkson, Stamps, Webb, Hinton, Smith, Bennett, Skovbjerg, Hadley, Foster, Marsh, Burgess, Brock, King, Druce, Cunnington.

Meanwhile, Harriers chairman Lionel Newton has pledged he will stump up £250,000 to bring Aggborough up to Football League standards -- should they win the Conference.

Harriers have been told they must build a new police control room, install closed circuit TV cameras, construct electronic gates and turnstiles and erect more spectator barriers by the start of next season if they go up.

Harriers were denied promotion in 1994 when their ground did not come up to scratch.

But Newton said: "Obviously it is a large sum of money but I want to make it quite clear to fans that I will support the improvements and I personally will put the money in myself."