KIDDERMINSTER Harriers could hand a Conference debut to promising midfielder Russ Penn at home to York City on Saturday - with Michael Blackwood set to fill in for suspended Wayne Hatswell at left back.

Harriers boss Stuart Watkiss - who was braced for further cuts to his playing budget at a board meeting this afternoon - has been experimenting with various permutations for his shallow squad in training this week.

With Martin O'Connor facing a longer than anticipated lay-off after an exploratory knee operation revealed more damage than expected, Penn has been groomed for a central midfield role against the Minstermen.

He benefited greatly from his recent loan spell with Harveyworld Travel Factory Alliance outfit Alvechurch and he has returned to Aggborough looking sharp.

Penn furthered his claims for a midfield berth alongside Terry Fleming with an impressive display in Harriers' 1-0 reserve team defeat at Walsall on Tuesday afternoon.

With Blackwood set to revert to full back, that leaves Kidderminster's two wide midfield places up for grabs with Simon Heslop, Laurie Wilson and on-loan Burnley youngster Marc Pugh vying for the two spots.

Hatswell has totted up five bookings and an instant one-match ban following his yellow-card during last weekend's 3-1 defeat at Stevenage, creating a problem boss Watkiss was anxious to avoid.

Since releasing left back deputy Steve Burton from his contract, Harriers have only had two left-footers, Hatswell and Blackwood among their first team ranks.

And with the manager not receiving a single penny of Burton's or departing right back Wayne Evans's wage to reinvest in the squad - Watkiss has been unable to bring in cover for the left side of defence.

In Hatswell's absence, he has contemplated reverting to three at the back and has even considered employing right-footers Johnny Mullins, Wayne Graves of Gavin Hurren at left back.

"Whatever I do it is going to be a case of putting a square peg in a round hole," admitted Watkiss.

"If I put Mullins, Hurren or Graves there I've got a right footer playing on the left of defence and if I put Michael Blackwood there I'll have to play a right footer on the left of midfield, but we'l just have to get on with it.

"There's a number of options but I'm swaying towards playing Michael at the back because I know he's played there previously.

"When I let Steve Burton go it was with the intention of using his money or Evans's money to bring in a replacement but obviously that hasn't happened."

Watkiss, who was set for his regular meeting with chairman Barry Norgrove and the Harriers directors today, also hinted that his playing budget could be reduced further.

If that happens he would be under pressure to release one of his top earners, thought to be leading goal-scorer Iysden Christie or skipper Mark Jackson.

The Harriers boss has also been busy on the phone this week attempting to clarify the loan arrangements for Heslop, Mullins, Pugh and Taiwo Atieno.

He fears that if any of the temporary signings are called back at short notice he could be down to the bare bones of a squad and struggling to name 11 players and five substitutes

"I have spoken to Barnsley, Reading, Burnley and Walsall to substantiate exactly how long we've got these lads for and to double check precisely what the terms are," he said.

"They are vital to us at the moment in terms of numbers and in terms of quality and I'd hate to think where we'd be if we lsot them.

"Barnsley and Burnley are stumping up all the cash for Heslop and Pugh so if they were to go back we would not save anything but we'd lose two important players."

Kidderminster's injury problems continue ahead of the visit of fifth-placed York.

Christie has been laid low with a virus and a recurrence of his foot injury which have forced him to miss training all week and although his foot is improving, he is rated as doubtful for Saturday.

Strike partner Atieno, too, has spent time on the treatment table with a hamstring strain.

With Gareth Sheldon still a fortnight away from shaking off his hamstring problem, Simon Russell out for another 11 weeks with a broken wrist and O'Connor set to be sidelined for four to six weeks, Harriers face a chronic shortage of bodies.

Watkiss has moved to address that situation by drafting in right back Patrick Flynn on a non-contract basis for month.

Flynn, a former Wolves trainee who had spells at Torquay and Port Vale following his release from Molineux, has impressed the Harriers boss in training.

"He's done well in the short time he's been here and by getting him on this basis we can have a longer look at him," said Watkiss.

"If he continues to impress us he will be considered for the first team."