KIDDERMINSTER Harriers' young central defender Lee Ayres is standing by to take over from injured Craig Hinton for tomorrow's Nationwide League Division Three clash against Exeter City at Aggborough (3pm).

Hinton is unlikely to play after having an operation on his nose which he broke in last Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Rushden & Diamonds.

A final check on the influential 24-year-old will be made before Harriers finalise their side, but Ayres is ready for a call-up after overcoming a foot injury which required an X-ray earlier this week.

Rookie Ayres, who will be 20 next week, took over from Abdou Sall on the stroke of half-time at Nene Park last Saturday after the giant defender was involved in a painful collision with Rushden striker Onandi Lowe.

He suffered an accidental kick on the head which required a visit to hospital, but was able to resume training on Tuesday.

He is now set to return to action tomorrow while midfielder Sean Parrish is also expected to be fit after having treatment for a thigh strain.

Kidderminster, who beat the Grecians 3-1 in the corresponding fixture last term, will be bidding for their first win of the season following draws with Lincoln City and Bournemouth and the reversal at Rushden.

Aggborough manager Ian Britton, who is hoping his side will have learned from their defensive errors at Nene Park, said: "We sat the players down and watched the video of the game and they couldn't believe how Rushden won, even when we were down to 10 men. The players felt they chucked three points away.

"The back five, the defenders and the keeper, will decide where we go this season. Defensively, we have a lot of work to do.

"We have got three out of the next four games at home and it's a chance to pick up points ourselves.

"Exeter had a great result against Hull last Saturday and they will be full of confidence. But I have said all along that there is no team in this division that we cannot beat."

Exeter, who appointed spoon-bender Uri Geller as their co-chairman in the summer, have made a number of signings in recent weeks including 36-year-old striker Don Goodman.

He has a wealth of experience from an 18-year career that started with Bradford City followed by spells at West Bromwich Albion, Sunderland, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Motherwell and Walsall.

FORMCAST: Harriers to clinch their first win of the season with a 1-0 triumph.