AFTER months of speculation about the comings and goings at Aggborough, Harriers can let their football do the talking when they kick-off the season against newly promoted Hayes and Yeading tomorrow (3pm kick-off).

With the squad which came so close to reaching the play-offs almost completely revamped, fans will be eager to see how the new additions perform.

Manager Mark Yates has a number of options to consider going into Saturday's opener.

With Aaron Farrell set to miss the game and last season's joint-top scorer Matthew Barnes-Homer a doubt because of a knock picked up in pre-season, Yates could play the versatile Chris McPhee up front.

The 26-year-old looked dangerous against Port Vale and grabbed a well-taken goal.

Barnes-Homer will have his fitness tested before the game after playing against Evesham on Monday night in the Worcestershire Senior Cup final.

The manager's biggest selection headache will be in midfield, where the form of McPhee, Dean Bennett, David McDermott, Brian Smikle and Kyle Hadley has been encouraging.

New addition John Finnigan is also pushing for a start but is still regaining his match fitness.

Yates has favoured a 4-3-1-2 formation in the build-up to the season, with Darryl Knights pulling the string behind the strikers.

Harriers also look well-stocked in defence with the securing of Gavin Caines, Liam Dolman and Zac Costello this week.

Martin Riley, who emerged as a real find for Harriers last season, will be aiming to build a new partnership with Caines, who had a successful spell at Cheltenham.

With the squad radically different, it will be important for likes of Riley and Brian Smikle to step up as senior players.

Yates also hopes that new signings like Hadley, who joined from Southern League side Stourbridge this summer, can surprise a few people.

He said: "The younger players took responsibility at times last season and we'll be asking them to do the same this time as well.

"You can't tell and you don't know what other people have got until the season starts but we're happy with what we've got and we're delighted with who we managed to bring in.

"We think there is quality that people perhaps don't even know about, with the likes of Kyle Hadley.

"I think he has shown what a force he can be, he can scare a few defenders."

Harriers' opponents come into the game on a high after winning the Blue Square South's play-offs with a 3-2 victory over Hampton and Richmond 3-2.

Gary Haylock's side lost 25-goal top scorer Joshua Scott to Dagenham and Redbridge but still boast the potent Scott Fitzgerald.

New signing Marc Canlan is set to feature for United, who lost 3-0 to Brentford in their final pre-season game.

Fans can keep up with the latest team news and minute-by-minute action from the clash with live match updates. Supporters can also comment on the action as it unfolds.