Striker Shefki Kuqi is back in Finland recovering from the thigh injury which will keep him out for just over a month. The Finnish international has a deep gash to his leg, picked up in a clash with Leicester's Dion Dublin on Saturday.
Boss Joe Royle says the former Sheffield Wednesday man is resting ahead of his return: "He needs a break. He has plenty of hard work ahead of him so he might as well go home and spend some time with his family. He's a super pro.
"The medical people will be keeping a close check on him and looking for any risk of infection. He has internal stitches in the muscle to pull it together and more to close the wound, and it will be a couple of weeks before he can do anything.
"It is a massive blow to Shefki. He has played such a major part in getting us to the top of the league and will be missed."
New loan signing James Scowcroft will take over alongside Darren Bent at Preston.
Town's squad is expected to be otherwise unchanged. Kevin Horlock looks to be over his shoulder injury, while Dean Bowditch is not expected to be kept out by a foot injury picked up during the warm-up prior to the Leicester match.