INJURIES may well have a large part to play in Kidderminster Harriers' Division Three fortunes but the club can boast more strength in depth this season.

Manager Ian Britton, who worked through much of pre-season with just 14 contracted players, has signed up five of his trialists.

And the addition of striker Andy Bishop, scorer of five goals in Harriers' last campaign, for a second loan spell brings Britton's squad up to 20.

He paved the way for the changes by releasing target man Drewe Broughton, striker Ian Foster and youngster Inderpaul Khela as well as Hugh McAuley and Dion Scott who joined them during the 2002-03 campaign.

Though the midfield remains relatively unscathed after Danny Williams and Sean Flynn signed new one-year deals, Britton's big challenges were in defence and attack.

Harriers were as leaky as a sieve at times last season so the club recruited ex-Coventry and Swindon centre-half Adam Willis who impressed on trial.

Matthew Gadsby and Kenny Coleman have also penned one-year contracts in a bid to make Kidderminster more solid at the back.

But at the other end of the pitch the exit of Broughton and Foster left other holes, only recently filled by Bishop and another trialist, the experienced John Williams.

If Harriers can defend with more conviction, then the goals should be there to take them up the table, though a lot will again depend on Bo Henriksen.

The Danish 20-goal top scorer oozed class last season and was sorely missed when he was suspended or injured, as was John Melligan who was signed on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

His 12 goals will need to arrive from other sources, such as Dean Bennett, Sean Parrish or Melligan's former team-mate Graham Ward, the Republic of Ireland U-20s captain.

Any injury crisis will no doubt give the club problems but they can at least boast a stronger set of players on the substitutes bench waiting to step into the action.

In a division that is likely to be dictated by the richer clubs, it is always going to be a success of sorts for Harriers to survive in the Football League.

Aggborough has among the lowest gates in the division, though the impressive new Jono Smith stand on the east side is likely to have a positive impact on crowds.

But while Harriers have the talent on their books to challenge for the top 10, it is likely the squad will again be stretched too much to drastically improve on last season's 11th-place mid-table finish.

l In at Aggborough: Matthew Gadsby (Mansfield), Graham Ward (Wolves), Kenny Coleman (Wolves), Adam Willis (Swindon), Nick Heath (youth team), Andy Bishop (Walsall - month loan), John Williams (Swansea).

l Out: Hugh McAuley (released), Dion Scott (Nuneaton), Ian Foster (Chester), Drewe Broughton (Southend), Inderpaul Khela (Evesham).