KIDDERMINSTER Harriers are considering a loan swoop after this weekend's clash with Exeter City as most of their back four are walking a suspension tightrope.

Going into Saturday's Conference fixture with the Grecians, Mark Jackson, Daryl Burgess and Wayne Hatswell are all one booking away from a one-match ban.

Stuart Watkiss is confident he has central defensive cover already at the club, but the Harriers boss is concerned over the lack of a left-back deputy for Hatswell following Steve Burton's departure.

Complicating the prospect of a defensive arrival is the uncertainty over whether Martin O'Connor needs a clean-up operation on his knee injury.

If the veteran player-coach requires surgery, Watkiss could be forced into the temporary transfer market for a midfield replacement instead.

Kidderminster have already welcomed back Reading's Johnny Mullins on a month's loan following right-back Wayne Evans's exit.

"Obviously we've had a couple of defenders leave and we've got three of the back four on four bookings," said Watkiss.

"We could probably cover Jackson and Burgess without bringing in a player because Mullins could move into the centre and Gavin Hurren, Wayne Graves or even Terry Fleming could go right-back.

"Hatswell is a different scenario because if he was to go down we'd have to get a left-sided defender in because there's nobody to fill in.

"We're waiting at the moment because if O'Connor needs an op of any kind we could have to get a midfielder in instead."

Watkiss's search for another keeper has been shelved due to youngster Dan Lewis's encouraging form.

The boss admitted Harriers cannot afford three keepers and the prospect of either John Danby or Lewis leaving was unlikely.

Watkiss is planning to name an unchanged side against Alex Inglethorpe's second-placed team, meaning Iyseden Christie will have to be content on the bench after his suspension last weekend.

With Taiwo Atieno scoring in the 1-1 draw with Hereford United, the on-loan Walsall striker is again set to partner former Exeter attacker Gareth Sheldon, who is fired up for the clash.

"I wasn't happy with how the Exeter boss Alex Inglethorpe treated me," said Sheldon.

"He didn't like the way I played so I spent most of my time in the stands. I'd like to show him what I can do."

Boss Watkiss is expecting a tough test, saying: "They're very direct, very organised and have got a good manager, which is why they're second in the league."

He admitted that with both sides out of the FA Cup, the Exeter game has been brought forward from its scheduled midweek date next January to give cash-strapped Harriers an earlier financial boost.

There has also been a change to Harriers' festive fixture at home to Burton which comes forward from New Year's Eve to Friday, December 30 at 7.45pm.

Defender Chris McHale is to be allowed out on loan to get match practice after completing his recovery from injury with a goal in Harriers' 3-1 reserve team friendly defeat at Willenhall on Tuesday.