JAN Molby will tonight be provided respite from his side's woeful Coca-Cola League Two form as Kidderminster Harriers travel to Bristol Rovers in the LDV Vans Trophy southern section first round.

Harriers head to the Memorial Stadium in a bid to gain much-needed confidence following Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Southend United, a result which returned the club back to the foot of the table.

Director of football Molby will be without defender Abdou Sall who received an automatic three-game ban after his dismissal just before half-time at Roots Hall.

The Senegalese player was shown the red card on 43 minutes for violent conduct when he reacted angrily to a late challenge from Lawrie Dudfield.

Harriers decided not to appeal against Sall's sending off after television footage failed to show the incident.

Teenager Chris McHale was brought on for the sacrificed Youssou Diop, still to score his first Harriers goal, following Sall's dismissal and the youngster is set to step in as cover at Rovers.

Harriers proved toothless up front at Southend but Molby was satisfied with his side's defence after the sudden reshuffle.

Molby said: "It's unfortunate but we have no evidence to support our claim that the referee's decision was harsh.

"The sending-off took away our main chance of getting back into the game.

"I'm pleased the players did what I asked, as we didn't want to surge forward and risk losing heavily again."

Midfielders Micky Mellon (Achilles) and Frederic Advice-Desruisseaux (calf) are still looking to return to full fitness from their respective injuries and are unlikely to be risked.

Forward Iyseden Christie, who was missing from the squad at Southend with a minor foot injury, should also be missing.

Craig Hinton, who spent six years at Aggborough before signing for Rovers in the summer, is poised to start against his former club.

Rovers boss Ian Atkins swooped to sign centre-half Hinton after the player turned down the offer of a reduced terms contract at Kidderminster.

Midfielders Craig Disley and Aaron Lescott look set to figure from the off for the Pirates.

Defender Robbie Ryan is rated as doubtful with an ankle strain and Jon Beswetherick could be drafted in to replace him if he fails a fitness test.

Rovers are currently seventh in League Two after making a decent start to the campaign, winning four and drawing four of their opening ten fixtures.