Town manager Joe Royle will have his fingers crossed that defender John McGreal comes through tonight's reserve game at home to Nottingham Forest unscathed (KO 7pm). If he is successful McGreal looks certain to go into the senior side for Saturday's visit to Derby.
Town have Richard Naylor and Chris Bart-Williams suspended at Derby and while Tommy Miller looks certain to replace the on-loan Charlton player, Naylor's absence creates a bigger problem with Drissa Diallo, Aidan Collins and Gerard Nash all injured.
Should McGreal fail to make it through this evening without a recurrence of his back injury or any other problem, then Fabian Wilnis may end up at the centre of defence.
Young defender Scott Mitchell, primarily a right-back, will also be looking to impress in this evening's second string game after being drafted into Saturday's squad at the last minute.
It will be a stronger than usual line-up fielded by Steve McCall with Darren Bent back after a knee injury and Alun Armstrong getting over a calf strain both likely to start alongside Dean Bowditch in attack.
Dutch midfielder Martijn Reuser is also included as he tries to regain fitness after his recent groin injury.
Reserves: Price, Synnott, Barron, Murray, McGreal, Mitchell, Reuser, Bloomfield, Armstrong, Bowditch, Bent, Abidallah, Supple, Flack, Craig, Manning and Atay.