MANAGER Ronnie Moore fears Tranmere may struggle to find 18 fit players to fill the team sheet for the League One visit to promotion chasing rivals Yeovil Town this weekend.
Two more casualties were added to Rovers' long injury list after the 1-1 draw with Notts County at Prenton Park on Tuesday.
Creative midfielder Andy Robinson limped off after 11 minutes with a hamstring strain and centre back Ian Goodison followed him into the treatment room on 24 minutes with a groin injury.
Tranmere started the game without new loan signing Mama Sidibe after the tall striker from Stoke City picked up a hamstring injury on his debut performance in the 5-1 win at Colchester last weekend.
Adam McGurk is ruled out for a month after suffering a collapsed lung while skipper James Wallace won't play again this season after undergoing surgery for knee ligament damage.
Meanwhile Tranmere's hopes of re-signing Ben Gibson on a second loan spell from Middlesborough will have to go on hold after the centre back, 20 this week, jarred his knee in training.
Moore does not expect Goodison or Robinson, his most experienced players, or Sidibe to be available for the trip to Huish Park.
Moore said: "I don't know what we have done wrong just recently but the number of injuries we've had is incredible. Andy Robinson and Ian Goodison won't be fit for Saturday. They are a little bit older and we will have to see how quickly the injuries settle down. It might be a week or 10 days before Sidibie is ready.
"The lads are giving their heart and soul and it was disappointing to hear some booing from one or two people at the end of the Notts County game. There is no need for it.
"When you look at the size of the squad we've got, the injuries we've had and the budget we’ve got to work with, every player deserves a medal. To have got to 60 points at this stage of the season is tremendous.
"We go again and get 11 players on the field at Yeovil. Whether we can get 18 on the team sheet is another matter."
Tuesday night's draw was enough to take Tranmere into third place, two points behind new leaders Doncaster.
Moore at least has the consolation of having Liam Palmer available for selection at Yeovil after the midfielder completed a three match suspension for his dismissal against Shrewsbury.
Meanwhile, Paul Corry is being urged to toughen up his act at the heart of Tranmere's challenge for a promotion spot.
Moore believes the 22-year-old Dubliner, signed on loan from Sheffield Wednesday earlier this month, has the skills to fill the creative void left by the loss of skipper James Wallace.
But Moore says Corry must learn to handle the more physical nature of League One football and impose himself on opposing teams more effectively.
He spoke to the player after the 1-1 draw with Notts County on Tuesday.
Moore said: "We miss the passing ability of James Wallace. I've said to Paul that we need him, a player from the Championship, to be on the ball.
"I don't think he worked hard enough on Tuesday and I told him that. I'm not saying anything I have not said to him.
"He's got the ability. But he's got to get more physical, got to get stronger. It is a big boys' league, this one.”
