"I'll assess their fitness. The pair of them haven't played 90 minutes for I don't know how long," said Bruce.
"Ramirez played the other day (at West Brom) and it was his first 90 minutes in six months, so I'm told. We'll see how he is.
"With Ben Arfa it's pretty normal when you've been ostracised, training with the under-21s. The intensity of playing and training. he's still got a bit to do fitness-wise."
The best Ben Arfa and Ramirez can hope for is a place among the substitutes, while Bruce will also make a late check on left-back Andy Robertson.
The former Dundee United rookie was forced to miss Scotland's trip to Germany with a calf strain and must prove his fitness in the next 48 hours if he is to maintain an ever-present record in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Bruce has admitted it is "highly unlikely" he will be able to turn to club record signing Abel Hernandez when West Ham visit the KC Stadium.
Hernandez became the Tigers' most expensive player 12 days ago when completing a £10m move from Palermo, but there appears to be little chance of the 24-year-old being unleashed on the Hammers.
A spell away on international duty with Uruguay has delayed Hernandez getting a visa from the British Embassy and yesterday he was still stuck in Italy awaiting the paperwork.
A Premier League debut will have to be postponed until City visit Newcastle United next weekend unless the green light comes before Monday night, and Bruce says that will be frustrating.
"Hernandez is still in Italy as we speak, trying to obtain his visa to get here," said Bruce, who saw Hernandez feature in Uruguay's friendlies away to Japan and South Korea following his big-money move to the KC.
"Unfortunately, he had to go and play for his country before getting back to Italy.
"I can't see him being available for Monday.
"It's a shame because we'd have got it by now if he hadn't had to go to play for his country."
