Hull City defender Jack Hobbs is struggling to recover from a swollen knee, leaving the door open for Paul McShane to face former club Barnsley this afternoon.
Hobbs has this week complained of a problem in his right knee – the same one that underwent cruciate ligament surgery 12 months ago – and will not be risked unless 100 per cent.
McShane, who feared his season was over when suffering ankle ligament damage last month, is on standby to return against the Tykes, two years after he completed a four-month loan spell at Oakwell.
Robert Koren (calf) will also be a major doubt to start after failing to resume full training, while striker Gedo has been ruled out with a recurrence of his foot injury.
A ray of light for boss Steve Bruce comes from the availability of Corry Evans.
The Northern Ireland international was badly missed when serving his two-match ban, but has been assured by the City boss he will return in a holding midfield role today.
Bruce also confirmed Matty Fryatt will start again after his long-awaited comeback last Friday. The prolific striker will be paired up with either Jay Simpson or George Boyd.
David Flitcroft's bid to mastermind the final two legs of Barnsley's Great Escape is not being helped by a growing injury crisis at Oakwell.
Defenders Stephen Foster (calf) and Bobby Hassell (hamstring) have collected season-ending injuries, while former Scunthorpe defender Jim McNulty (hamstring) is another struggling to make it.
Rory Delap, on loan from Stoke, will also miss out with a calf problem, but Barnsley are willing to give Kelvin Etuhu every chance of recovering from his hamstring strain.
Suspended Stephen Dawson is another ruled out.
A straight red card in the 6-0 defeat to Charlton two weeks ago leaves Dawson serving the final game of a three-match ban today.
The lack of options points towards Flitcroft naming a similar side to the one that earned a 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest last weekend.
Beaten just twice in their last nine games, they are showing encouraging resistance in the fight for survival.
With the onus on Barnsley to win their final home game of the season, there could be changes in the attacking line.
Jason Scotland, quiet in recent weeks, could be the one to make way if Flitcroft recalls Chris Dagnall.More on Hull City's big day
• Just one more win: Bruce confident Hull City will deliver at Barnsley
• Hull City promotion would be Bruce's crowning glory after proving quality
• Hull City's Corry Evans ready for long-awaited crack at Premier League
• Ian Ashbee: Hull City must be patient at Barnsley
• Hull City will be rewarded with £120m windfall in Premier League
