KIDDERMINSTER Harriers look set to be forced into a defensive reshuffle at Chester in the Skrill Premier tomorrow (3pm).

Having already seen centre-half Chey Dunkley sidelined by a knee injury which may require surgery, left-back Mickey Demetriou now faces up to six weeks out with a broken wrist.

The situation has been compounded with Josh Gowling, who suffered a broken nose earlier in the campaign, getting hit in the face again during last Friday’s 0-0 draw with Aldershot.

Although centre-half Gowling should be fit for the Deva Stadium clash, Jamie Grimes is poised to continue in place of Dunkley, while Danny Jackman or Marvin Johnson could deputise for Demetriou.

Manager Steve Burr may look to draft in defensive cover but is unlikely to swoop before the Chester match.

“It’s the worst run of injuries I’ve had since I’ve been at the club and it's becoming a really testing time now,” he said.

“These are the types of situations where you need a bit of luck, but we’re not having any at the moment.

“The back five have been really consistent and hardly changed at all last season but when you lose some of your better players, then you begin to feel it.”

Strikers Michael Gash and Amari Morgan-Smith are nursing toe injuries and midfielders Jack Byrne (ankle) and Jamie Tolley (Achilles) have been struggling.

However, the quartet all featured in a 4-1 friendly defeat to Burton Albion at the Football Association’s St George’s Park on Tuesday.

Third-placed Harriers seek to beat second-from-bottom Chester, without a win in four matches, for the second time this season having won 3-1 at Aggborough in August with goals from Gowling, Johnson and Joe Lolley.