HULL City captain Robert Koren is struggling to win his fitness battle in time to offer his experience for the Tigers' crucial promotion test against Cardiff at the KC Stadium.
After missing the last two games with a calf injury suffered in the 1-0 defeat to Wolves 17 days ago, it was hoped Koren would recover in time to feature against the Bluebirds tomorrow lunchtime.
However, the influential playmaker and top goalscorer is still rated as a major doubt and appears unlikely to be considered for a start in a fixture City must win to guarantee their place in the Premier League.
City are unwilling to rule out Koren and manager Steve Bruce will check on his recovery again today.
However, his absence from training all week points towards the Slovenian missing out on the promotion decider.
Without a goal in their last three games and Egyptian striker Gedo, who is definitely sidelined with a persistent foot injury, it leaves Bruce likely to select two from Matty Fryatt, George Boyd, Jay Simpson and Nick Proschwitz to sharpen a blunted cutting edge tomorrow.
None of the available quartet have delivered a goal in the Tigers' last six games, but Bruce must pin his hopes on a sharper attacking emphasis returning a victory to rival any in the club's 109-year history.
Although it remains to be seen if he is included in the starting XI, Bruce will again be able to call on son Alex tomorrow.
A minor Achilles injury has kept the 28-year-old out since the 1-0 win over Middlesbrough four weeks ago and though it was initially feared his campaign was then over, Bruce junior has trained all week to earn his inclusion in tomorrow's squad.
Jack Hobbs is another fully fit after a knee injury condemned him to the substitutes' bench for last week's 2-0 loss to Barnsley, but Paul McShane may again get the nod in defence alongside stand-in skipper Abdoulaye Faye and James Chester.
The moment of reckoning is almost upon the Tigers as they today make their final preparations for tomorrow's colossal encounter with title-winners Cardiff.
Holding a one-point lead over third-placed Watford, Bruce's men know a victory over the Bluebirds will be enough to earn only the second top-flight promotion in the Tigers' 109-year history.
"We've got to treat it as a cup final," said Bruce. "It's a one-off game and we've got to forget all about what's gone before.
"We're still in a wonderful position and one more win will see us promoted regardless of what goes on elsewhere.
"It needs one big performance and it's up to the players to go out there and show people what they're made of.
"A huge game is just around the corner so there will be a bit of nervous tension, but it's all about how you handle it now.
"You've got to cope with it in the right way and make sure we learn our lessons from the last couple of weeks."
