BOSS Mark Yates is hopeful his Harriers are now over the worse of the sickness bug that hit the squad last week.

Kidderminster lost 2-1 to York last Saturday as they succumbed to two stunning strikes from the visitors despite Joe Ironside netting in successive games.

The clash saw striker Ashley Chambers forced off after just 23 minutes at Aggborough as illness took hold.

A host of others had also been suffering in the days leading up to the contest.

Harriers are now facing the long trip to fellow play-off chasers Blyth Spartans this Saturday but Yates thinks his players are in a better place this week.

He said: "The lads have been alright and the sickness bug seems to be over now.

"We did have a few more come down with it just after the weekend because we work so closely together, are around each other every day and get changed together.

"We had four or five that were hit. Ash Chambers had to be taken off last Saturday because he felt sick and Ed Williams didn't train either, but it does seem to be coming to an end now so we should be fine for the weekend.

"We had them in on Monday and addressed a few things from Saturday but then took the decision to give the players an extra day off to recover.

"A few good sessions this week and we'll be ready and will go there with a positive frame of mind.

"We'll deal with Saturday and make sure there is no hangover from it.

"If we can work hard and do the things we want then we have the ability to beat any team in this division on our day.

"Blyth had a good win last weekend and, like ourselves, will be looking at those play-off places.

"We just need to get the basics right first and foremost, which we didn't do against York."

Key playmaker Declan Weeks is rated as 50-50 to feature at Blyth and will have his injury assessed later this week.

Both Ed Williams and Billy Daniels trained while the rest of the squad was off this week as they continue to build up to full fitness.