Southern United will be without at least seven players for its ASB Premiership match against Hawkes Bay United in Napier on Sunday.
Defenders Ross Howard (groin) and Josh Stewart (calf) have both been ruled out through injury, while captain Matt Joy, Tristan Prattley, Regan Coldicott and Morgan Day have a wedding to attend.
Tim McClennan is also unavailable due to personal reasons, meaning coach Mike Fridge needs to rejig his side for its first away match of the season.
There is also a chance backup goalkeeper Zane Green misses the match with a back injury, but Fridge will not know if that is the case until after tonight's training session.
''It's just one of those things. It's not ideal,'' Fridge said.
''It's not what you want for your second game of the season.
''We've picked up no points from our first game, and in our second game we're away from home against a side that did well against Auckland [1-1], and yet we've got seven players out from selection.
''It doesn't get any easier.''
Southern United played a warm-up match against a selection of Dunedin players on Tuesday night so a few players needing game time or returning from injury could get a run.
Scottish striker Sam French, who was a late scratching from Sunday's 2-0 loss to Waitakere United with an ankle injury, did not take part in the match.
However, Fridge is ''hopeful'' he will get through training tonight and be available for selection.
Midfielder Seamus Ryder, who missed Sunday's season-opener with a knee injury, got through training on Tuesday night and is in line to return this weekend.
Defender Craig Ferguson (knee), another player who was ruled out through injury last weekend, also got through training on Tuesday and could be available for selection.
Harley Rodeka missed last weekend's game due to work commitments in Auckland, but has now relocated to Dunedin.
The former Otago United player arrived in the city yesterday and will train with the team for the first time tonight.
If he is ready to go come the weekend, he will play against the side he represented for the past three years in the ASB Premiership.
Fridge will assess his squad at training tonight before naming his 16-strong match-day squad to travel to Napier on Saturday afternoon tomorrow.
