FORWARD Jordan Murphy has fired a warning shot at Kidderminster Harriers, insisting the pitch at Aggborough will play to Worcester City’s strengths.

The former Harriers attacker also believes the Hoo Road stadium will feel like a “home away from home” for some of his team-mates who played for City during their ground-share at Kidderminster.

Worcester were forced to dig deep to claim a 0-0 draw at Bromsgrove’s Victoria Ground on Boxing Day as both teams finished with 10 men.

However, Murphy is confident 16th-placed City will be more expressive in the reverse fixture against their high-flying county rivals in Vanarama National League North.

“They have seen what we can do on Bromsgrove’s pitch so they are going to be a bit more wary of what we can do on a nice, flat pitch, which is a bit bigger,” said the 20-year-old ex-Walsall youngster.

“All I want to do is get involved up front, get attacking and get some shots off.

“I don’t think the pitch at Bromsgrove had an effect on that but the pitch at Aggborough will play to our strengths so we can play a bit more passing football and create more chances.”

New Year's Day (3pm) will be the first time City have played at Harriers’ ground since ending their three-year stay in April due to an increase in rent.

And Murphy, who had a loan spell at the Reds in 2015 and was on trial with John Eustace’s side in the summer, said Worcester’s experience of the stadium would be an “important factor” in the match.

“It is somewhere I feel comfortable and is almost a home away from home,” he continued.

“A lot of the lads have been there for a couple of years and people like Hughesy (Lee Hughes) and Jacko (Danny Jackman) have played for Kiddy as well. It’s not going to feel like an away game and that can only benefit us.”

Second-placed Kidderminster had been on a run of six straight victories in all competitions before being shut out by City.

And Murphy reckons his side have got the ability to condemn their opponents to a first home defeat since losing 2-0 to FC United of Manchester in October.

“They are a good team so we had to do what we could to counteract that on Monday,” said Murphy, who has started in City’s last two games.

“It did not help being down to 10 men but I was really impressed by how the lads dug in.

“When you go down a man, sometimes you do need to just dig in and take a point and we did that perfectly.

“We can build on that now. We know a bit more about them, their style and that really helps if you are playing them again so quickly.

“We have definitely got the capabilities to win the game, especially now we have sussed them out a little bit. We have given ourselves a great chance to go there and get something.”