ANDY Preece is contemplating picking a player from four leagues below Worcester City's level to solve his injury problems.

Richard Tomkins, who plays for Pershore Town in the Midland Combination Premier Division, has been sounded out over the current lack of left-sided cover at the club.

Adam Burley is sidelined with a back injury and Shabir Khan has been ruled out until at least the visit of Harrogate Town on September 1.

Manager Preece is looking at several options for tomorrow's eagerly anticipated clash ag-ainst Kettering Town at St George's Lane.

Drafting in wing-back Tomkins, who has been training with the team this week, is one although Preece has other irons in the fire.

He said: "Richard Tomkins trained with us and he's going to continue to train. He's a possibility and we have got another couple of things on-going that could strengthen the squad in the short-term but none of those are final-ised."

With top-of-the-table Ketter-ing having scored nine goals in their last two games, the likely return of Chris Smith will be a welcome boost.

Key defender Smith missed the Hinckley victory and was due to be rested for the trip to Burscough before Burley was forced off at half-time.

Craig Wilding should also be fit to feature despite a niggling groin problem, while Nick Colley came through 90 minutes for Brereton Social in their Midland Combination Premier 1-0 defeat against Brocton on Tuesday.

But Gary Walker tweaked his hamstring playing for Malvern against Evesham at the Lane in mid-week and is unavailable.

The manager, whose side travel to Telford on Bank Holiday Monday (3pm), said: "Chris Smith has got a good chance of playing but Shabir Khan won't be fit.

"Craig Wilding has had a slight groin problem which we can't seem to get to the bottom of at the moment but he seems to be OK for the weekend. Whether he will be OK for Monday we don't know."

City have a good home record against Kettering, beating them 2-0 on their last two visits to Worcester.

The Poppies are expected to bring a sizeable following, particularly in view of their start, which could make for the first four-figure gate of the season at the Lane.

Preece added: "We might get 1,000 for it and we have just got to make sure that we perform for them. I would have thought they would bring a fair few with them."

City chairman Dave Boddy has announced that crowd segregation will be in force at tomorrow's match, meaning fans will not be able to switch ends at half-time.