MARK Yates wants his Kidderminster Harriers players to be party poopers tomorrow and lift spirits at the ailing Conference club.

Harriers have had another season for fans to forget, struggling along in the league but never being embroiled in any serious danger of a second successive relegation.

Former skipper Yates managed to keep the points ticking over with some impressive results away from home since replacing Stuart Watkiss but his players have also suffered several embarrassing maulings at Aggborough.

However, Harriers could go some way to repaying the supporters with a good show at home to champions Accrington Stanley who have romped away with the title to seal a long-awaited return back to the Football League.

Kidderminster's season was only really lifted by a bright LDV Vans Trophy run but they now have an ideal opportunity to dampen Accrington's Conference celebrations.

Yates, set to announce his retained list next week, believes the Lancashire side are at the top-of-the-table on merit after watching them on numerous occasions.

And the ex-Burnley coach feels their changing room camaraderie is a big factor in helping them to win 28 of their 41 games so far this season with only six defeats.

He said: "I've seen them up there and I've watched them on the television and they've got some very good players. Their team spirit is something else and they've done wonders.

"Burnley reserves used to play there so I know their chairman and manager and they've done a terrific job.

"They've got big, strong, organised, talented players who can excite you and they're what winning the league is all about.

"It will be interesting for our lads to see what a winning team of champions look like. We'll give them plaudits before the game, then do our best to beat them.

"We don't want it to fizzle out into a promotion party, we want to go out on a high by beating the champions."

Harriers can finish as high as 14th if they surprise Accrington and results do not go the way of Gravesend and Canvey Island.

On the other hand with a defeat, Crawley Town could catch the Wyre Forest side and push them down to 17th which would hardly be a salubrious start to life back in non-league's premier competition.

With just one win in six games, including last Saturday's dismal 3-0 defeat at Dagenham & Redbridge, any players contracted until the summer have a last chance to stake their claim for a new deal.

But Yates' mind will be made up over the vast majority of them and it is unlikely many will be retained alongside Gavin Hurren, Russ Penn and Jake Sedgemore.

Accrington, meanwhile, can look forward to a long-awaited return to the Football League and are finishing with a flourish after three victories in a row, including defeats of relegation-threatened Scarborough and Tamworth.

Harriers have a doubt over left-back Jonny Harkness (Achilles) tomorrow, while loanees Simon Rea and Jon Newby have both returned to their own clubs.