Yates wants Harriers belief

Both sides head into the Marston Road clash having started their Blue Square Premier campaigns with defeat, Harriers going down 2-1 at home to Aldershot while Stafford were beaten at Farsley Celtic.

But Yates is determined to keep spirits up at Aggborough and has made it clear to his players that nothing has been won or lost on the back of Saturday's reverse.

"It's a great game for us to try and bounce back," said Yates.

"It will be a good test for us but we have got to go there still believing and still look to go out there to do the right things.

"It will be a physical test for us because Stafford are a big, strong side who themselves will want to bounce back.

"It's up to us to impose ourselves on the game. I haven't lost any belief in my squad because of one game.

"We just need to keep improving and I had the lads in yesterday and this morning working on one or two things.

"I've told them that in the grand scheme of things one defeat is not the be all and end all.

"Of course we would have liked to have won the first game to get some momentum.

"It just means we've got to keep believing in ourselves and look to go out and get three points tonight."

Yates is planning to keep the faith with the majority of the side that started the season against the Shots.

But he has hinted there may be a couple of changes, even if he is keeping those plans close to his chest.

"There might be one or two changes," he said.

"One might be enforced and one might be tactical. We've got a few bumps and bruises but no one is ruled in or out at the moment."

Skipper Stuart Whitehead has progressed well after his hernia operation and may be ready to replace Gavin Hurren in the centre of defence, while striker Iyseden Christie is knocking on the door for a recall.

Wide midfielder Simon Russell continues to struggle with a knee injury and left-back Jonny Harkness serves the final game of a four-match ban for a red card last season.