ASSISTANT boss Martin O'Connor has saluted the Kidderminster Harriers defence for "laying themselves on the line" in pursuit of success so far this season.

O'Connor, who is rated 50/50 to face Forest Green Rovers on Saturday because of a knee injury, believes the Harriers rearguard have been the team's best department.

And the veteran player-coach insists Kidderminster need to be just as ruthless all across the park if they are to force their way into the higher echelons of the Conference.

"To me, the back four have been our best department and you need that if you want to be successful," said O'Connor.

"I know the manager still wants us to tighten up a bit more and concede less goals, but I think the lads we've got there will give us a great platform to build on this season.

"Daryl Burgess and Mark Jackson have been solid and Wayne Hatswell and Wayne Evans have done well too."

O'Connor insists boss Stuart Watkiss has gone to great lengths to hammer home a never-say-die attitude.

"The gaffer has instilled into us this mentality of giving everything we've got," he said.

"He asks us how far we're prepared to go to win games and whether we're prepared to lay ourselves on the line.

"When you see our defenders throwing themselves in the way of everything like they have been doing then it just shows you the kind of spirit we've got here."

Former Blues and Walsall favourite O'Connor believes another sign of Harriers progress was how "gutted" the team were to leave Grays Athletic's Recreation Ground with only a point last weekend.

O'Connor, who was forced to limp off just before half-time, said: "To see how frustrated the lads were to only get a draw away at the league-leaders was great for me.

"We felt as if we'd lost the game, when on reflection we'd earned a pretty good point.

"But it just shows the belief the lads now have. We know we're good enough to get into winning positions against these teams and now we've just got to start finishing them off."

The 37-year-old coach returned to training yesterday after receiving treatment on his injured knee and is optimistic of lining up against Forest Green.

And despite the Gloucest-ershire outfit's unspectacular start to the season, O'Connor is anxious to warn against complacency.

"We don't underestimate anybody in this division because if you do it can come back to haunt you," he added.

Former Harriers Abdou Sall, Jon Beswetherick, Matt Gadsby and ex-loan keeper Ryan Clarke could line up for Rovers, but Aggborough favourite Ian Foster is out injured.