A BIG night is awaiting Kidderminster Harriers with a Worthington Cup first round visit to past European Cup winners Nottingham Forest.

Ian Britton's men are set to visit the City Ground on Wednesday, September 11, to take on the famous Division One outfit.

Harriers will hope for a good pay day from the clash but attendances in the cup's early stages are notoriously low.

However, they may well fancy their chances of creating a shock on a par with their 1994 FA Cup success at Birmingham City.

Despite the apparent gulf between Harriers and Forest, the two Midlands clubs are united in suffering recent financial problems.

Both are managed by their ex-youth team bosses with Paul Hart in charge at Forest and Britton leading Kidderminster.

Ironically, Britton's U-18s were knocked out of the FA Youth Cup fifth round at Forest last season.

The debt-hit club, who won European football's biggest competition in 1979 and 1980 under Brian Clough, are having to rely more on their flourishing youth policy.

Harriers, meanwhile, have had to cut their squad and tighten the purse strings to stay on track.

Britton said: "It's a good draw for us although I would have preferred it if we had been drawn at home.

"Nottingham Forest are a good footballing side which should make for an interesting game.

"I know our players will be more than happy to play there, in fact for some of the lads this will probably be the biggest game of their careers."

Harriers, just two weeks away from their opening Division Three test against Lincoln City, visit county rivals Worcester City on Saturday (3pm).

It will be their final friendly at non-league opposition with City chasing honours in the Dr Martens League Premier Division.

Britton will hope for better defending after an entertaining 4-2 defeat against Reading last Friday and Sunday's shock 4-3 loss at minnows Solihull Borough.

Striker Bo Henriksen has required treatment on a thigh injury, while midfielder Mark Blake is still making good progress from his Achilles problem.