KIDDERMINSTER Harriers manager Jan Molby believes the key to success in the Nationwide League Division Three is tip-top fitness.

And he makes no apology for the rigorous training routine he is putting his players through following the Agg-borough club's elevation into the full-time professional ranks.

"The biggest thing is to strengthen the fitness of the players," he said after another hectic training schedule in preparation for today's trip to Cardiff City.

"Everybody is fit and everybody is strong in the Third Division whereas in the Nationwide Conference you come up against players who might not have been as fit as the manager would have liked for various reasons.

"If players have been out injured it's very difficult to get them back to any kind of level of fitness.

"But, also, I think that when teams like Carlisle come here and set their stall out to defend they have got better players and they can actually see it through 90 minutes. Last season in the Conference we had plenty of teams coming to Aggborough trying to pinch a draw, but over the 90 minutes they weren't good enough. They were always going to make mistakes.

"That, probably, is the biggest difference at this level. There are very few mistakes being made and there are a lot of good players. But the Third Division is a tough league to play in and you need to be fit."

Meanwhile, today is Kidderminster's last Saturday match until their October 14 trip to Lincoln City. This Friday they entertain Blackpool and seven days later Rochdale will be the visitors to Aggborough, both Third Division matches.