PAUL Cox wants to see hunger and desire from his players as they seek to bounce back from defeat at Kidderminster tomorrow.

Barrow head to the West Midlands to take on the almost-relegated side just four days after a 3-1 loss at Eastleigh ended their 10-match unbeaten streak (3pm kick-off).

Cox – who will be without Ritchie Sutton, after his season was ended by a hamstring injury – wants to see his players step back up to the mark following an early blip on the south coast, where they were 2-0 down within 30 minutes.

“When you’ve lost a game, for me it doesn’t matter who you play or what their circumstances are – I’m looking for the players to show me who is really hurting after the loss on Tuesday and who wants to bounce back and really put that first 30 minutes to the back of their minds,” he said. “We’re quite capable of it.

“Everyone in the squad has something to play for. Whether you’re on contract for next year or you’re fighting to get a contract, everybody has something to prove. I’m now in the process, over these next three games, of deciding the way to go forward and really take the club forward.

“I’m looking for people that can pass that test of being consistent for 46 games in the league season.”

Anything other than victory for Harriers tomorrow will send them down – and even that might not be enough depending on other results – and Cox knows Barrow are facing a side fighting for their lives.

But the AFC boss expects his players to match the intensity of their hosts, and added: “They’re fighting for their lives. In games like this, you want players to have that mind-set, which they have shown before, to go and match their temperament.

“They will be hungry to win this game and keep their season alive. It’s amazing when there is a gun put to your head, how you can raise your levels of performance.”

Loan full-back Sutton’s spell was ended by a hamstring injury picked up at Eastleigh.

The Tranmere Rovers man had started every game for the Bluebirds since joining until the end of the season in March, making 10 appearances and providing a solid presence at right-back.

He hurt his ankle in the 1-1 draw against Macclesfield last weekend, but recovered to start at Eastleigh, only to pull up early in the second half with a new problem.

Cox was sad to see the end of Sutton’s spell, and said: “It’s a slight tear on his hamstring and it’s going to take two or three weeks to heal.

“It’s a horrible loss to us, but if you could say anything it’s that if he was going to get injured it has come at the right time in a sense. We’ve only got three games to go and the season is coming to a close.

“The one thing you would say about Sutts is that he has been what I knew he would be – he has been Mr Consistent for us. He has been an excellent addition to the squad.”

Dave Symington is set to start in Sutton’s place, while Cox is hopeful Steve Williams will be fit to feature at Kidderminster as he continues to recover from an Achilles problem.

The manager said: “We’re keeping our fingers crossed with Steve. He is another one who has been brilliant – he really wanted to give it a go on Tuesday night with his Achilles, but he wasn’t 100 per cent and we weren’t going to risk him.

“Fingers crossed, we might have a better chance of him being fit for Saturday.”