Hereford United manager Graham Turner has boosted his squad before today's transfer deadline by signing 22-year-old midfielder Rob Betts from Third Division Kidder-minster Harriers until the end of the season.

Betts will be in the squad on Saturday when the Bulls will be aiming to climb into the Nationwide Conference top spot with a revenge win over fellow promotion chasers Shrewsbury Town at Edgar Street.

Current leaders Chester are without a fixture as they were scheduled to play Aldershot who will be otherwise engaged in the FA Trophy semi-finals.

Betts made his debut for Doncaster Rovers, his home-town club, at the age of 16 and in the same year was transferred to Coventry City, for whom he made 19 first team appearances. Subsequently, he has had loan spells with Plymouth Argyle and Lincoln City before joining Rochdale on non-contract forms last summer.

In September, however, he moved on to Harriers and has made eight first team starts and two substitutions.

Central defender Tamika Mkandawire played his final loan period game for Hereford at Margate last Saturday, while midfielder Scott Willis' month's loan from Lincoln City expires after the Shrewsbury match.

Turner said: "There was no chance of signing Mkandawire as he has a future at West Bromwich Albion. We can retain Willis after Thursday if it is a continuous loan period, but no decision has been made on that yet. Betts is a holding midfield player and will boost our strength in that department."

Tom Smith, who made an impressive Conference debut for the Bulls against Accrington Stanley, will take over in the centre of defence from Mkandawire. Apart from Ben Smith who is sidelined until the end of the season, the only casualty is Mark Beesley, still recovering from a viral infection.

After Tuesday's 2-1 defeat to Aldershot, Shrewsbury are lying in sixth place 12 points behind Hereford with three games in hand. They beat the Bulls 4-1 in November and Hereford, who will have two former Shrewsbury players, top scorer Steve Guinan and defender Andy Tretton, in their line-up, will be thirsting to avenge that defeat and extend their winning league run to six matches.

Shrewsbury are expected to bring in the region of 2,000 supporters to Edgar Street and a near capacity crowd is expected.

Although it is an all-ticket game, supporters are urged to arrive early to avoid congestion at the turnstiles.

l Bulls defender Richard Teesdale is currently on loan to Moor Green and midfielder Jordan King to Hednesford.