Kidderminster Harriers manager Mark Yates insists the players have been kept ticking over nicely in their enforced break of action as the countdown begins to Saturday’s visit of Oxford.

It will be two full weeks since the team played a game when the league leaders come to Aggborough, with the visitors having played and progressed in the FA Cup first round against Yeovil last Saturday – a game Yates was at running the rule over his next opponents.

Harriers have spent the fortnight getting back to basics on the training field, although the club did try to get a future game pushed back to no avail.

But their taskmaster manager warned them it would be no holiday, especially as the break was caused by being dumped of the cup at Blue Square North side Fleetwood, and the squad has had the rule ran over them throughout.

Now life will start get back to normal with the standard Saturday match ahead, and their boss has given the players credit for the way they have handled themselves.

Yates said: “The lads have worked really hard all over this break and that is what we needed, because we didn’t have a game. The club tried to get a couple of games brought forward so we could have a game, but unfortunately were not able to do it.

“As a result, we have pushed the players and as a group that have worked ever so hard. It’s about making the best use of the time and we have got the balance right I think. This week will be normal for us at least, with us fully focussed on what we want do against Oxford.

“We just want to keep the players bright and bubbly, because we can’t affect anything that has happened before.”