United are due to entertain Kidderminster Harriers at the KasStad this Saturday although there is a small amount of doubt over the game following yesterday’s blizzard-type conditions. Although the thaw has already started, and the weather is forecast to get milder and wetter (like a good beer) tomorrow and Saturday morning, we remember last season’s fixture against Carlisle in similar circumstances. That game was called off because a part of the pitch in the shadow of the South Stand hadn’t completely thawed out, and referee Joe Ross felt it represented a danger. Saturday’s ref is Eddie Evans and, being from Greater Manchester, he might have more of a tolerance for cold conditions, so we are hopeful that the game will go ahead, and this preview is predicated on that premise.

United are in the happy position of having a full squad to choose from, although Jamie Brooks and Andy Scott are neither of them ready for first team action just yet. The same cannot be said of strikers Lee Steele and Mark Rawle, for whom the phrase “chomping at the bit” could have been coined, if they were horses rather than footballers, that is. Both are in contention to start the game, and both will be hopeful of at least playing some part in the match, although the likely front pair remains Steve Basham and on loan Richie Foran.

Midfield is probably the area where there is the least squad coverage, and the trio of Dean Whitehead, Paul Wanless and Jame Hunt will all doubtless be happy at having had a week’s rest. At the back Jon Ashton and Dave Waterman will be hopeful of some involvement, bearing in mind that the last time out United’s back line uncharacteristically conceded four goals. Twits. United will obviously be looking to bounce back from the Hull trouncing, and against 19th placed Kidderminster they should be looking at improving their goal difference too. Of course, we all know that’s not the way things work in the real world.

Kidderminster are currently allowing former United loanee striker Abdou Sall to train with them, and manager Jan Molby has admitted that they might be interested in signing him permanently, although no move is imminent. The Harriers drew 0-0 at Bury last weekend, and their Tuesday home game against Cheltenham was postponed due to a floodlight failure, which is a shame. Harriers feature penalty-misser Bo Henriksen, so Rage Online confidently predicts a 2-0 home win.

We are less confident about the morning’s fixture, when Raging Fever host Kidderminster supporters at Horspath Road. The corresponding fixture last season was a 3-3 draw, but earlier this season they beat us 9-0, which was, er, unfortunate. We are hoping to at least get on the scoresheet in the return game!