ALTHOUGH Mark Yates was more than likely considering wholesale changes to his Kidderminster Harriers side to face Stevenage Borough tomorrow anyway, his hand may well have been forced by a catalogue of injuries.

It wasn't just the scoreline after Tuesday night's 5-0 home mauling at the hands of Grays Athletic that was brutal, the physical contest itself has left several key players nursing knocks.

Yates' defence has been particularly hard hit, with centre-halves Daryl Burgess and Gavin Hurren and left-back Johnny Harkness all rated as doubtful for the visit of Graham Westley's play-off chasers.

Captain Burgess was substituted after 35 minutes on Tuesday evening after picking up a neck injury. His replacement, Hurren, completed the match, but he did pick up an ankle knock. Harkness only lasted 10 minutes longer than the skipper, as he was withdrawn at half-time suffering from a groin complaint.

When you add Jake Sedgemore (groin) and Luke Reynolds (illness) to the injury list, it starts to look like Yates will have to field a much-changed side tomorrow.

A large section of the fans will say this is a good thing after enduring Tuesday's spineless display, but the manager insists he was planning changes regardless of the injury problems.

He said: "I am hoping all the players carrying knocks will be able to train today and we'll have to wait and see how they get on. Hopefully they'll all be in contention for tomorrow.

"It goes without saying that I want a full squad fit and available to select from going into a game against a team like Stevenage, but I am still looking to make one or two changes to the team that played against Grays.

"Obviously the result was very disappointing, but we don't get too high when we win and, by the same token, we don't get too low when we lose. As manager, it is my job to motivate the players and not let them get down after bad results, and that is exactly what I've been trying to do.

"Thankfully, we've only got three days in between games so it is not too long for the players to dwell on the result.

"I am looking forward to the visit of Stevenage as they are a good side -- you can see that from their position in the league -- and we have to be on top of our game. It will be a good challenge for us.

"I want the players to get back to what they were like in the game against Hereford and, if we can do that, we will have a good chance of getting something from the game."

Tuesday's 5-0 thrashing was the heaviest league defeat in recent memory and only 1,220 people turned up, which was the lowest home gate for a league fixture since, before Harriers' made it to the Football League.

Although Yates, who has played reserve team football for Burnley this season, insisted he could have done a better job than some of his players did in midweek, he ruled out pulling his boots on to tackle Stevenage.