FOX in the box Brian Smikle is relishing an FA Trophy re-match against Stevenage Borough.

You could be forgiven for thinking the 24-year-old would sense a dread feeling of deja-vu after the 2007 and 2009 winners were draw against Harriers in the semi-final.

Smikle has bitter memories of May 12, 2007 as the only surviving member of the Harriers team which suffered a 3-2 FA Trophy final defeat at the hands of the Hertfordshire outfit at the new Wembley Stadium.

Then a willing winger on the fringes of the squad, he had been given his chance to shine on the biggest stage, but when James Constable's stirring brace was cancelled out by three second-half goals, the former West Bromwich Albion youth’s dream turned into a nightmare.

In contrast, he’s relishing the chance to tussle with the current Trophy holders and deliver some payback.

For Smikle, now the longest serving player in the squad at Aggborough, the semi-final represents a chance to knock out the tournament favourites and install Harriers as the team to beat.

Harriers welcome Borough in the first leg on Saturday, before the second leg at the Broadhall Way seven days later.

“I knew even before the draw that we were we going to get Stevenage,” commented the wideman.

“But I feel they’re the favourites for the Trophy so if we hadn’t met them at this stage, then we’d have played them in the final.

“If we can beat them over two games then we’ll go to Wembley and have a great chance of winning the final.

“I know we lost to them 2-0 in December but they caught us at a low period, we’re a different team now.

“We’ve been on a good run and our confidence is high and I think they know that they’re in for a much tougher test.

“It doesn’t matter if we play them at home first or second, I believe we can go anywhere and get a result if we need to.

“Obviously, the fans remember how we lost to them in the final three years ago.

“It was a result which really hurt us all but it’s a different squad now.

“It’s not about revenge for us, although I have to admit it would be sweet if we beat them.”

Saturday’s semi-final first leg at Aggborough is also an important marker in Smikle’s own increasing importance and influence on Harriers’ squad.

Joining in the summer of 2006, fans always appreciated his industrious appetite for work as a squad player, but his true potential was not unlocked until the 2008-09 campaign.

He took the chance handed to him by former manager Mark Yates and rewarded him with 10 goals in a season when he made 22 starts and 19 substitute appearances.

When that group, which fell agonisingly one point short of the Blue Square Premier’s promotion play-offs, was dismantled for financial reasons they managed to retain Smikle, ensuring the player affectionately nicknamed ‘Junior’ became a senior first team player.

He’s continued to reward Harriers with more goals, hitting double figures as he strives to reach, or even surpass, his personal goals target for 15 this campaign.

The midfielder also credited new manager Steve Burr for his timely return to form.

He said: “I think that Steve Burr needs to take a lot of the credit over how well we are doing. He’s came in and gave us all a lot of confidence.

“He’s changed the formation from 4-3-1-2 we had under Mark Yates to 4-3-3 and I play on the left.

“It means that I don’t have to track back as much and don’t get as tired and I think that has made a difference.

“I have to credit Mark Yates as well, he gave me my chance and I managed to take it.

“I wasn’t playing very often when I first came and for the first few seasons and it’s hard to get into a rhythm and my confidence was a bit low. I didn’t do as well as I had hoped when I first came.

“But he gave me my chance at the start of the 2008-09 season and I wasn’t about to waste it.

“Playing regularly helps and I’ve been able to score a few goals as well.

“I scored 10 goals last season and my aim was this time was to grab 15.

“I’ve already beaten last season so I’m on track for my target. As long as we’re winning I don’t mind who’s scoring though.”