TEAM NEWS:

Hatters: The Hatters are awaiting news on Czech midfielder Pavel Besta who failed to receive international clearance to play against Altrincham on Saturday. Adam Newton returns from suspension after missing the same game.

Poppies: Lee Harper will hand late fitness tests to Andre Boucaud (ankle) and Marcus Kelly (thigh) while Brett Solkhon (ankle) has been passed fit and player-manager Harper must decide whether to play himself over returning keeper Nathan Abbey.

IN FOCUS:

Nickname: The Poppies

Player/Manager: Lee Harper

Ground: Rockingham Road

Last season: Conference 6th

2008/09 average attendance:1,386

2009/10 BSP title odds: 40/1

Previous meetings:

Luton wins: 0

Draws: 1

Kettering wins: 1

Kettering hold an unbeaten record over the Hatters going into tonight's game and have yet to concede a goal. A goalless draw on the Town's one and only visit last August at Rockingham Road was followed by a 1-0 defeat at Kenilworth Road in December when Richie Partridge's goal was the difference.

Match report: Kettering 0-0 Luton 29/08/2009

Ex-Hatter Ian Roper attempts to clear from George Donnelly in the meeting at Rockingham Road last August

Match report: Luton 0-1 Kettering

Adam Newton goes for goal in the last meeting between the two sides

Recent history:

After winning the Conference North title in 2007/08 the Poppies started their first campaign back in the Conference Premier after a five year absence with a storm and landed up finishing in eighth position before going two places better last season when finishing sixth after spending the majority of the campaign in the division's top five - with one of the best away records to boot.

The Poppies faithful have certainly had plenty of ups and downs in recent years, with Paul Gascoigne installed as manager in 2005, Play-Off heartbreak in 2006/07 before winning the Conference North title at a canter collecting a division record of 97 points.

The club enjoyed several successful seasons in the non-league top flight during the 1980s and 1990s.

However, in the days where only one team was promoted to the Football League, the Rockingham Road faithful were denied promotion, finishing as Conference runners-up on four separate occasions in 1981, 1989, 1994 and 1998.

FACT: Kettering were the first English side to have shirt sponsorship, when in 1976, they were sponsored by Kettering Tyres.

LIVE & ONLINE: Can't get to the game? Remember lutontown.co.uk will have all the action as it unfolds. Hatters Player will have live commentary plus all the reaction after the final whistle.

TICKETS: No more on sale, you're too late. Almost 1,700 will make the short trip to Kettering tonight.