MANAGER Gary Whild has warned his Kidderminster Harriers players not to take Dartford for granted at Aggborough today (3pm).

The Kent outfit finished in the relegation zone last season but were thrown a lifeline during the summer when they were reinstated to the Vanarama Conference following Salisbury City’s explusion for failing to pay creditors.

Whild believes that will have spurred them on to ensure they are not in a survival scrap again this term.

Dartford have so far lost 2-1 at home to Wrexham but were denied victory at Woking in midweek by an injury-time equaliser and had to settle for a 1-1 draw.

“Dartford will be tough and it will be similar to Alfreton, we will have to be patient and keep concentrating,” the Harriers manager said.

“Their mentality will be that they’ve had the let-off with what happened in the summer and they very much want to be part of this league, as they showed in their first season.

“They’ll be determined to not be down there struggling again and that all points to a really tough game.

“We want to continue our good record playing at home.

“I think that was apparent on Tuesday night and we’ll have to do more of the same today to get a result.”

Meanwhile, defender Jared Hodgkiss has savoured the start to his Kidderminster career following his summer move from Forest Green.

The right-back has slotted impressively into the position vacated by Lee Vaughan, who moved to Cheltenham Town, and also provided the cross for Marvin Johnson’s goal in the 3-0 win against Alfreton.

Hodgkiss said: “If you can win your home games and draw away, that’s promotion form.

“We pride ourselves on clean sheets so we’re very pleased with the first two games.

“I think hard work gets you where you want to be.

“If every player gives 100 per cent, we can get there.”