KIDDERMINSTER Harriers manager Steve Burr admits he has thought about wrapping up his remaining fit players in cotton wool ahead of tomorrow’s long trip to Darlington (3pm).

With five injuries and one suspension, the Aggborough side are down to 17 fit and available players for the Blue Square Bet Premier journey to the north east.

Centre-back Luke Jones (calf), left-back Mike Williams (hip), midfielders Dave Hankin (ankle) and Jack Byrne (ill) and keeper Danny Lewis (knee) will all miss the clash with the Quakers, while right-back Lee Vaughan begins a three-match ban for his dismissal in the 2-2 draw with Telford United.

“You do think about taking it easy in training because you don’t want anyone else getting injured,” Burr said. “But you have to be positive.

“You have to train and prepare for the game properly and hope no-one else pulls up with an injury today.”

The Harriers boss, who is looking for his team to claim their sixth win on the road in eight matches at Darlington, says he hasn’t known the injuries at Aggborough to be this bad since his arrival at the club in January 2010.

With only four fit and available defenders for the trip to the Northern Echo Arena, Tom Marshall will start in place of the suspended Vaughan.

“We will go with the players that I have got for tomorrow’s game and assess from there because we are playing again on Tuesday night (against Braintree).” Burr said.

“I have been pleased with how we have been playing on the road and hopefully that can continue.

“Yes we have got a few problems, but it does give others an opportunity to come in and show me that they are good enough to keep us up in the top-half of the table.

“The performance on Tuesday night was pleasing as well considering we played for 85 minutes with 10 men.”

Mark Cooper’s Quakers, meanwhile, have strengthened their back-line this week by signing former Peterborough United and Evesham United central defender Exodus Geohaghon.