Town start their pre-season fixture campaign with a friendly against Dublin side Shelbourne at Tolka Park on Saturday (KO 5pm). Striker Paul Taylor is amongst a number of first team squad members who won't be involved.
We understand that Taylor didn't make the trip to Ireland with the club keen that the 25-year-old takes his recovery from his long-term foot injury steadily.
Skipper Carlos Edwards is also absent as he is away with Trinidad and Tobago at the CONCACAF Gold Cup in the USA until later in the month.
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was also missing from the party which travelled to Ireland on Monday with the Blues and Bristol City discussing a swap move involving the pair.
Town are likely to field all or most of the players who have spent the week training at Carton House in Kildare.
Youngsters David October, Amir Berkane, Kyle Hammond and Mark Timlin are amongst those in the squad in Ireland, while former Colchester and Bristol City keeper Dean Gerken has also been training with the Blues.
Saturday’s opponents Shelbourne are currently bottom of the Airtricity Premier Division with the Irish season running through the summer. You can read HarryfromBath’s excellent blog on the mood amongst Shels fans and more here.
Details of Town’s other pre-season friendlies can be found here.