A HANDFUL of triallists will have the chance to impress Mark Yates when they join the Kidderminster Harriers' squad for their first three friendlies in the coming week.

The Aggborough boss is hoping to give more than 20 players a run-out during their first practice match at Gloucester City tonight (7.45pm).

And the performances of the triallists will go some way to deciding whether they will play a further part in Harriers' pre-season programme.

Former Total Network Solutions right-back Martin Naylor, brother of Wolves defender Lee, is among half a dozen players keen to win a contract, along with ex-Villa and Boston right-back Ashley Edkins.

Jordan Fitzpatrick, a central midfielder formerly with Wolves, ex-Albion winger Brian Smikle and former Luton midfielder Stuart Sinclair will also get a run-out tonight.

Completing the collection of triallists are last season's youth teamers defender Ashley Walker and striker Scott Eaton."We're going to give everybody a run-out and whether that means they'll get half-an-hour or 45 minutes I don't know, but they'll all feature," said Yates.

"We've got a number of young pros that have been released by league clubs who we're having a good look at.

"They've come in and worked hard with the rest of the squad and they've got a good spirit about them.

"We've seen them running and what they can do physically and we've just started to do ball work with them to see how they can play.

"The Gloucester game is a good chance for them to show what they can do and after that we'll see how we are for the Albion game and the rest of pre-season.

Yates is relishing the prospect of facing West Bromwich Albion at Aggborough on Saturday - especially after Harriers home ground's mini-facelift.

Admission for the Albion game, which kicks off at noon, is £10 adults, £5 concessions and £2 under-16s.

"I'm looking forward to playing Albion and I've got a good relationship with Bryan Robson and Nigel Pearson because I did some of my qualifications with them.

"The game has come about because of that and I know the two clubs have a good relationship with their reserves playing at Aggborough.

"Hopefully that will continue this season and they will appreciate what we have done in improving the pitch and making the dressing room area better."

Albion are set to split their first team squad with half of them travelling to Aggborough for the midday kick-off and the other half visiting Walsall for a match at 3pm.

"I'm sure whichever squad they send here it will include a few big-hitters and a few of their younger players and they will provide us with a good test," said Yates.

"Neil (Howarth, assistant manager) and I have been chatting about how we will interpret pre-season and the main thing is that all of the lads get some game time and improve their fitness as time goes on."

Meanwhile, with last season's `captains' Mark Jackson, Daryl Burgess and Wayne Hatswell no longer at the club, the skipper's armband is up for grabs.

The manager has decided who will lead the squad during the forthcoming Conference campaign - but he is biding his time before telling the players.

"I've got somebody in mind with the right attitude and the right credentials but I don't want to tell him or the rest of the lads yet because he's got to prove to me that he's worth a place in the team first," added Yates.

Harriers' pre-season continues with a trip to Cinderford at 7.45pm on Thursday, July 20.