The Old Golds play Canterbury at Rugby Park in Christchurch on Friday afternoon.
Coach Jason Forrest named a 26-man squad last week.
But he needs to ascertain the seriousness of injuries sustained during the club final on Saturday before naming the game-day 23.
"I can’t actually answer that until I get the heads-up from my physio around some of the injuries," he said.
"There are a couple of guys we’d like to give as much time as we can."
Valley beat Maheno 22-19 to claim the Citizens Shield.
Experienced back Nick McLennan, who has played sevens for Scotland, picked up a shoulder and knee injury in the match, while midfielder Sam Tatupu (elbow) and hooker Sam Sturgess (ribs) have been left nursing complaints as well.
"They are all starters for us if they are available so we are holding off.
"I’m hoping to get two out of the three going."
McLennan is the most unlikely.
"That is a massive blow for us but I’ll be giving Nick as much time as he needs."
Ideally, the club final would not have taken place so close to such an important game.
But club rugby took precedence this season and that meant finding a work-around.
"We did not want to disrupt clubs too much this year, so it is not like the preparation we had last year before the [Ranfurly Shield] challenge against Otago.
"But it is what it is, hence I’ve got these experienced guys coming back into the frame because they switch on to things a little bit quicker and just know how we are going to play."
Prop Ralph Darling and back Lemi Masoe have agreed to make a cameo.
The have both played more than 100 games for North Otago and will return for the Shield challenge.
Halfback Robbie Smith has other commitments this year as well but will lean his weight to the cause on Friday.
"We are really looking forward to developing the younger guys but just not in an environment against this Canterbury side.
"We’ve got a lot of work to do with these guys but that is what the Hanan Shield stuff is going to be for."
Canterbury has named a side featuring former All Black lock Luke Romano and one-test All Black Brett Cameron.
The game will be broadcast live on Sky Sport.
