KCs will be down to the bare bones when they hit the Powergen Intermediate Cup trail at home to Wellingborough on Saturday (3pm).

Their opponents, who play at an equivalent standard to Midlands Three West (North) league, in Northamptonshire, are flying after two wins.

But the Marlpool Lane men go into the game on the back of defeats to Wolverhampton and Bridgnorth and with half a dozen first teamers missing.

KCs, who exited the competition at the second round last season, are without the unavailable Matt Poole (second row), Ben Turner (prop), Dan Quinn (centre), Lee Southerton (second row) and Dave Allsop (back row), while winger Ambrogio Neri and back row Giav Iacono are injured.

Director of rugby Phil Knowles is hoping the return of Jason Sunderland to the second row will have a motivating effect on his team. He said: "We haven't played them before as Kidderminster Carolians but they're flying and have scored 80 points in two games.

"We need to try and hold the ship together because we've started off on a rocky plain and we need to sort it out."