The Reynolds Arena welcomes Third Division football for the first time this afternoon - and manager Mick Tait is determined not to let another slip up spoil one of the biggest days in the club's history.

Last week's 4-1 opening-day drubbing at title favourites Hull City ensured a disastrous start for Tait's men.

And the Quakers boss has warned a similar outcome against Kidderminster Harriers today will take the shine off the clubs big day.

"The occasion means nothing if we don't win the game," said Tait. "We've got to get out there and do the job right.

"We have to make sure the new stadium - and the occasion - don't interfere with the job we have to do."

The club's ticket office enjoyed a late surge in sales yesterday and more fans are expected to pay at the gate today with a crowd in excess of 10,000 expected.

And Tait, whose side played in front of 14,000 at Hull's KC Stadium last week, believes a good performance today will do no harm in tempting 'floating' fans back to the Reynolds Arena for more regular visits.

"We want to play in front of big crowds every week and the only way we're going to do that is if we perform and get the results," said Tait.

"Fans love to see good football played and we will be doing all we can to make sure of that.

"People will come back to watch a winning team no matter how they're playing."

However, Harriers boss Ian Britton last night warned Quakers his players are not just turning up to make up the numbers.

Harriers opened their campaign with a 2-1 win over Mansfield last week and lost by a single goal to Ipswich in the Carling Cup in midweek.

"Darlington fans will be expecting their side to win but we want to spoil the party," said Britton.

"We have no intention of going there to lose. We're going there hopefully to win."

Tait feels his side will need time to settle into their new surroundings and believes there is little separating the sides today.

However, if Quakers are to make the Reynolds Arena a fortress this season, then they must start as they mean to go on, according to Tait. "It's new to us, it's new to them, so we haven't got any great advantage," said Tait.

"We've got to make sure we establish an advantage as soon as we can.

"For quite a while this is going to be as new to us as it is to the opposition.

"We've had another training session today and the players love it.

"We had a workout on the pitch last Friday but that didn't do us much good did it?

"It's good to get a feel for the place."

And Tait will be hoping his side can reproduce the same level of performance which saw them knock First Division Bradford City out of the Carling Cup in midweek.

"The players are buzzing after Tuesday and so they should be because it was a great performance," said Tait. "Hopefully we can play at that level again because it was a very high standard.

"We had a good 45 minutes and a bad 45 minutes against Hull and it cost us dear.

"We spoke about that and to be fair to the players they responded in the best possible way."

Goalkeeper Andy Collett missed the trip to Valley Parade through injury and now faces a fight to reclaim the goalkeeper's jersey.

Stand-in stopper Michael Price impressed on Tuesday night, keeping a clean sheet, and Tait must decide whether to keep faith with the inexperienced Price or bring back first-choice goalkeeper Collett, who is now fully fit.

Winger Neil Wainwright is also pushing for a start after recovering from a groin injury.

Defensive trio Gary Pearson, Joey Hutchinson and Matt Clarke are all doubtful, with Hutchinson the only one likely to be ready.

Clarke is struggling to recover from an ankle injury suffered in midweek and is a major doubt while Pearson (back) and Hutchinson (hamstring) face late fitness tests.

Striker Danny Mellanby is on the mend after suffering a recurrence of a rib injury at Hull but may have to settle for a place on the bench with Carling Cup hero Glen Robson expected to get the nod to partner last season's top scorer Barry Conlon in attack