Hearts will be without Andrew Driver and Jamie Mole for the Clydesdale Bank Premier League game against St Johnstone.
Winger Driver has aggravated his troublesome knee problem and will not be risked, while Mole is out with an ankle injury.
Fellow forward Calum Elliot is finally back from a knee operation, while Eggert Jonsson returns from suspension.
Marius Zaliukas (ankle), Suso Santana (hernia) and David Templeton (foot) remain out, and Laryea Kingston (hamstring) is still building up to full fitness.
Meanwhile, David Obua fears Hearts will fall apart if Csaba Laszlo quits to become Scotland boss.
Jambos manager Laszlo revealed on Thursday he would welcome talks over the vacancy with the Scottish Football Association if given permission by his club.
Obua is in a unique position in the Hearts squad, having worked under Laszlo while the Hungarian was in charge of Uganda.
Indeed, the 25-year-old sees Laszlo as something of a mentor, admitting his departure would be as much of a blow personally as it would be for the club.
He said: "I think we'd crumble because he's tried to bring the whole club together.
"Hopefully, he can stay here and keep doing what he's been doing."
Obua added: "He was my manager before in the national team. At that time, I was at Kaizer Chiefs and was at the end of my contract.
"He's helped me, advised me when things were going wrong.
"He's a coach you can rely on when things are not going right. Any time you want to call him, he'll pick up his phone."
Obua has no doubt Laszlo could revive Scotland's fortunes if given the chance to succeed George Burley.
"He did well in Uganda," the forward said.
"It's two different situations: it's Africa, Europe.
"But he's a good manager and I think Scotland would be glad to have someone like him.
"He brings everyone together, bringing the whole pack together as a team.
"Sometimes, that's what you need when things are going rough.
"You need someone who can bring all of you guys together, and you can gel better and go out and fight for each other."
Obua acknowledged the Scotland job is "bigger" than the Hearts post but urged his manager to focus on domestic matters until the SFA come calling.
That means improving on a start to the season that has yielded just two wins in 11 Clydesdale Bank Premier League games.
Laszlo has repeatedly bemoaned his lack of goalscoring options this term in a bid to convince majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov to buy a new striker.
But until that happens, Obua knows the pressure is on himself and his team-mates to start finding the net.
"For us, the strikers, we haven't been scoring goals. That's the problem," he said.
"If you don't score, you're bound to concede.
"If we can correct that, I think we'll do much better in the coming games."
St Johnstone midfielder Martin Hardie is ruled out after picking up a knee ligament injury in a game against Falkirk in midweek.
And the Hearts game has come too early for striker Steven Milne who is recovering from an ankle injury.
There are doubts over Graham Gartland (shoulder), Steven Anderson (back), Danny Grainger (thigh) and Kenny Deuchar (groin) and boss Derek McInnes will wait until nearer kick-off before making a decision.
McInnes admits Hearts will probably consider the clash at Tynecastle as three points in the bag but the St Johnstone boss will use that expectancy to motivate his players.
The SPL new boys have impressed this season with their performances but points have been harder to find, only nine being garnered from 11 games.
And although the Perth side travel to Gorgie only one point behind their hosts, McInnes accepts Hearts will target the game as one where they can help themselves to three more.
"They will see the game as three points, like everyone else when they play us," the former Rangers and Dundee United midfielder told Press Association Sport.
"We will use that as motivation, we have to got to use any motivation that we can because it can be down to small percentages.
"But we have shown so far that we are capable and we have to keep showing that.
"We did well against them when we drew at our place earlier in the season but we know it will be a tough fixture again this time.
"Hearts finished in the top three last season and I fully expect them to finish in the top six this season.
"Tynecastle is a good place to play football and there is always a good atmosphere there so we are looking forward to it."
