MARK Yates is hoping the lure of playing at the Millennium Stadium will motivate his Harriers players sufficiently for them to beat League Two promotion chasers Carlisle United in the LDV Vans Trophy northern semi-final tonight (7.45).

Yates admits it is a big challenge to come away from Brunton Park victorious, but he believes it will be a good marker of how far his team has come.

The Kidderminster boss said: "It is certainly going to be a tough game. Carlisle are riding high in League Two at the moment and are full of confidence.

"They play at a very high tempo and have some excellent players, but we are determined to go there and give a good account of ourselves. We have to try and impose ourselves and make it difficult for them. We are up against a top lower-league side and it will be a massive test of how good we are."

Carlisle are hoping to hand a debut to Mark Rivers tonight after the midfielder signed for Paul Simpson's side from Crewe.

Former Leeds United striker Michael Bridges, who scored a hat-trick in Carlisle's recent 5-0 away win at Boston in the league, is set to miss the semi-final though.

Yates added: "Bridges is cup-tied for the game which is a bonus for us as he is a quality player and we all know what he can do, but they have quality right through their squad and they won't miss him too much.

"Playing cup football is always a welcome distraction from league football, especially as we are only three games away from playing at the Millennium Stadium, and, in my opinion, we have the hardest tie in the round. But who knows what could happen?"

A win tonight could set up a local derby with Hereford in the two-legged Trophy northern final if the Bulls prosper as well.

Meanwhile, Harriers made an off-field signing when legal expert Oliver Hunt joined the club as the new company secretary.

The 34-year-old London-based Harriers fan, who took over from Richard Painter, is charged with raising the club's profile as well as taking care of day-to-day legal work.