ASSISTANT manager Neil Howarth is hoping Harriers can produce a special night at Aggborough and get one over Blue Square Premier high-fliers Mansfield Town tonight (7.45pm kick-off).

For the first time this season, Harriers take on one of the Football Conference's in-form sides when the Stags visit Worcestershire.

David Holdsworth's outfit are hotly tipped to be one of the sides vying for promotion to the Football League after extensive squad strengthening during the summer.

Harriers will also be aiming to bounce back from Saturday's surprise defeat to Eastbourne.

Howarth believes that the matches against the division's best sides will bring the best out of the team and the fans.

With Mansfield set to bring a strong travelling contingent, there is set to be a big match atmosphere at Aggborough.

"They're a good team on a good run and will be up there at the end of the season," commented Howarth.

"It's the first time we have played one of the in-form teams and it will be a huge test for us.

"We want to be right up there with the best of them, so if we're going to do that we're going to have to do it against teams like Mansfield.

"It's going to be a good game and we normally respond against teams like this.

"They'll bring a few fans, it's going to be a nice night and the players will be determined to put in a good performance for us."

Striker Robbie Matthews is set to miss the clash after the groin injury which forced him out of the three previous games flared up against the Sports on Saturday.

Experienced midfielder John Finnigan is also a major doubt after injuring his ankle at the weekend.

It means that Darryl Knights and David McDermott may be handed rare starts.

However, neither players' injury is anywhere near as bad as Martin Brittain's injuries sustained in Gateshead's clash with Hayes and Yeading.

The former Reds wingers was stretchered off after breaking his tibia and fibula on Saturday.

Howarth said: "We did everything we could to make sure Robbie was match fit before the game and sometimes you can't tell until he's in a match situation.

"He's aggravated another part of his groin, so it's a reoccurrence of his previous injury.

"John landed badly and his ankle is swollen, he's not completely ruled out of Tuesday's match but he's a doubt.

"These injuries are niggly ones that seem to linger around and hopefully they will clear up sooner rather than later.

"Luckily, we don't have any serious injuries, when you look at what happened to Martin Brittain, it puts it all into perspective."

Mansfield, could welcome back former Harrier Craig Armstrong to the side after he missed their last two games through injury.

Paul Heckingbottom is only just back on the road to recovery after getting injured in pre-season.

Harriers also welcome back defender Luke Jones, who was a first team regular before being displaced in the side by Martin Riley last season.

"We didn't want Luke to go but it's a testament to his quality that he was signed up straight after he left," added Howarth.

Don't miss any of the action at home to Mansfield - just log onto our live minute-by-minute match coverage to keep up with how Harriers are faring. You can also comment on the action as it unfolds.

You can also read a match report almost straight after the final whistle.