MID-WEEK goal ace Gareth Sheldon should get the nod to reproduce his heroics at early leaders Grays Athletic tomorrow.

Sheldon's four-goal haul may have come in a reserve friendly win at Tamworth but Kidderminster Harriers boss Stuart Watkiss believes his summer signing is nearer to creating a storm in the Nationwide Conference.

The former Exeter City forward grabbed the second strike in Harriers' last away game, a 2-0 success at Cambridge United, as a super-sub.

But Watkiss admitted: "Sheldon's four goals for the reserves have pushed him to the forefront. He is tried and tested in the Conference and is an England international at this level.

"He came here two weeks later than everyone else and was behind in his fitness which showed in his early performances.

"Maybe he still needs to lose a few pounds but the signs are there in his latter performances that he is just starting to find his feet and settle in which obviously is great for us.

"Iyseden Christie hasn't trained this week but I believe he'll be OK for the game. Hopefully, it will be him and Tai Atieno up front and we could throw Sheldon in there as well."

With loan addition Simon Heslop "very doubtful" for the game, Wayne Graves may make a full debut in midfield after coming through the reserve game.

Watkiss said: "The game against Tamworth was important for him. He could be right in contention for a starting place and will certainly be in the 16. Potentially, he could be a big player for us."

Michael Blackwood will not be available until at least after this weekend due to a recurrence of his hamstring injury in last Friday's 3-2 win over Canvey Island.

His pace could have been valuable against a Grays side who have set the Conference alight, though that has certainly come as no shock to Watkiss.

Beating Hereford United 2-0 at Edgar Street has been the pick of the Essex side's four wins and two draws since winning Nationwide South last season.

The Harriers manager said: "I've spoken to people down at Hereford and they were very impressed with Grays.

"With due respect to the previous teams we've played, Grays will be the first we've come up against that will genuinely try to pass the ball. But they can dig in as well.

"If you delve a little deeper, they have a squad of about 30 players and someone who is willing to invest an awful lot of money into the club.

"They're probably in the top two or three with budgets in the division but you have to give them credit for adapting to the Conference after coming up last season.

"They have a very good manager in Mark Stimson. Stuart Thurgood is the ball player in midfield and up front Tony Battersby is experienced as is their 'keeper Ashley Bayes.

"But so far we've played better away from home. We have got to improve on last Friday but maybe it was a good sign that we played as poorly as we did but still won."