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Ross County defender Sean Webb and striker Conor Gethins both look set to miss tomorrow's First Division trip to Falkirk.
Webb has failed to recover in time from a gashed toe suffered during a trial spell with Charlton a fortnight ago.
Gethins went over on an ankle in training yesterday.
Goalkeeper Tony Bullock won't make the game due to family illness and that means the first start of the season for Ramirez Gonzales.
However, it's not all bad news for County as Kenny Gilbert prepares to make his first start for the team for 18 months. Gilbert was recently given the all-clear to head the ball again after suffering a serious eye injury.
Ross boss Neale Cooper is delighted to have Gilbert back in action. He said: "Kenny is the kind of player we need when we are fighting for points in every game. He gives us that extra bit of steel and gees up the other players around him.
"Conor is a doubt after damaging his ankle in training and Sean Webb is definitely out. Tony misses out for family reasons, but I am confident that Gonzales can provide ample cover."
County are hovering near the foot of the First Division and Cooper knows his side must take something from the game.
He said: "We have been playing well against the bigger sides and not so well against the smaller ones. I can't understand it, but we need to buckle down now and get some points on the board."
Richard Hastings is still on international duty with the Canadian national side and is not expected to return until February 5. Cooper added: "It's a pity we've had to do without Richard for so long, but the young lads who've come in have done very well."
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Ross County goalkeeper Ramiero Gonzalez is set for his first start for the club, against Falkirk at Brockville today, but Dingwall manager Neale Cooper insists he has no fears in giving the youngster his chance.
First choice keeper Tony Bullock misses today's game due to a family bereavement and Gonzalez, who has played only three minutes of first team football for Cooper's side as a substitute, will be given the task of shutting out Falkirk.
Ross County manager Cooper will be forced to include members of his youth team today as Conor Gethins and Richard Hastings are unavailable, while Sean Webb is rated as having a 50-50 chance of making the game.
The County boss said: "It is a blow to be without Tony but he needs to be with his family at the moment and I am sure Ramiero won't let us down.
"He has shown a terrific attitude since he arrived and has waited patiently for his chance.
"He was with Airdrie last year before almost joining Atletico Madrid in the summer.
"When the deal fell through he came back to Scotland and joined us on a short-term deal. He has bags of potential and this game will be the perfect chance for him to show what he is capable of."
County have struggled in the First Division this season and currently sit second bottom of the table, and Cooper has called on his players to show some fighting spirit against Alex Totten's side, which is seven points ahead of the Jags.
Manager Cooper said: "We have beaten Falkirk a couple of times and we really need to do it again at Brockville. We haven't discussed our league position but we badly need a win to close the gap on the teams above us.
"At this stage of the season we must be winning games and we will be aiming to do just that.
"But Falkirk is not the easiest of places to get points at the best of times. Alex Totten is an experienced boss and he will certainly have his players wound up for this one because their survival could also be in the balance."
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Brave Ross County midfielder Kenny Gilbert was delighted to return to action in Saturday's impressive 4-1 win at Falkirk, after 18 months out of the game with several eye operations.
Tough-tackling Gilbert, 26, said: "It was brilliant to get back to playing again after such a long lay-off. We played magnificently well considering we'd been out of action for a few weeks and, personally, I was delighted to have lasted the full 90 minutes.
"It brought home to me just how much I'd actually missed playing as I had been able to train for most of the last year but, of course, I was unable to take part in games as I was not allowed to head the ball after my operations until getting the all-clear from my consultant a couple of weeks ago.
"Someone, some time was going to get a real hammering from us and it was purely coincidental that it turned out to be Falkirk on my return to action."
He added: "Hopefully, we can get a result at home to Raith Rovers this Saturday as that's a real six-pointer because we have to beat the teams round about us.
"I would love to be part of it at home this week - our fans were tremendous at Falkirk and I can't wait to make my comeback in front of them at home."
County manager Neale Cooper was equally upbeat about Gilbert's Brockville performance when he said: "One of the papers voted Kenny man of the match at Falkirk as he went about his job as if he'd never been out of the side."
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Neale Cooper does not need to remind his players of the importance of a win when basement boys Raith Rovers visit Victoria Park this afternoon.
Ross County are stuck in a relegation dogfight and every point is precious.
A defeat for the Dingwall club would see Raith leap-frog them into second-bottom spot, leaving Cooper's men rooted to the foot of the table.
However, Cooper admits last weekend's superb 4-1 victory against Falkirk at Brockville has given the players a real boost ahead of today's First Division crunch match.
He said: "The players have been buzzing in training and last weekend's result seems to have lifted their spirits.
"We will be looking to build on that success against Raith, but they, too, had a morale-boosting win over Clyde last weekend.
"It's a huge game for both teams and we will be out to attack them and try to take three points.
"We have been inconsistent this season and, hopefully, last weekend is a turning point for us."
Jocky Scott's side are unbeaten in their last three games, but have not managed to take even a point against County, having played them twice this season.
The Highlands have not been a happy hunting ground for the men from Kirkcaldy this term. County's rivals Caley Thistle have already scored 15 goals against them in three games.
Cooper added: "I don't care how many goals we score as long as we win the game.
"They will be up for it, but so will we and we have to make home advantage count."
Midfielder Mark McCormick misses out with a groin injury and defender Sean Webb is still recovering from a broken toe he sustained during a trial with English Premiership club Charlton Athletic.
On-loan Aberdeen defender David Lilley faces a late fitness test, after suffering a bad cut on his knee and midfielder Richard Hastings comes back into the squad after his return from international duty with Canada.
Cooper said: "It's good to have Richard back in contention and we'll wait until the last minute before making a decision on David Lilley."
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Ross County welcome Highland rivals Caley Thistle to Victoria Park tonight (7.30) with much at stake for both clubs.
County currently sit second bottom of the First Division, but victory for the home side can narrow the gap between the two clubs to just one point.
Dingwall manager Neale Cooper is pledging to continue the attacking policy which has brought two consecutive league victories.
He said: "We have gone with an open approach in our last two games and scored eight goals. We have changed our system and got the results, so we will approach this game with the same mentality.
"The derby is a one-off game and I'm sure the good atmosphere will ensure it is a competitive, attacking match."
Cooper admits the pain of losing the last derby 3-0 in Inverness still runs deep for his players, and believes they will be keen to make amends in front of their own supporters tonight.
He said: "We were really poor at Caledonian Stadium and I know the players were hurt after their performance on the day. We are the home side this time and we want to try and make up for the disappointment of the last derby by winning this game."
Caley Thistle assistant manager Duncan Shearer maintains the mood in the Inverness camp is good, despite Saturday's 4-1 defeat at Partick Thistle.
He said: "We know Partick Thistle are a good side and they came at us right from the kick-off. We struggled on the day.
"But you have to remember they are going for the championship while we were missing some of our key players. Despite the result, the players remain upbeat."
Shearer admits the team have struggled to find any form since knocking out Hearts in the Tennents Scottish Cup, but he believes the derby game with County can act as a catalyst for the club.
He said: "Derby games can go either way and form never comes into the equation.
"We have set ourselves a target of winning five of our last 11 games to secure our safety and the County game gives us the perfect opportunity to kick-start our season."
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Ross County striker Alex Bone believes the Dingwall club's players will show the character needed to ensure First Division football at Victoria Park next season.
Former St Mirren striker Bone, who netted his first goal at home since September in County's 4-2 win over bottom club Raith Rovers last weekend, says recent results prove the team's poor run of form is over and he is confident County will climb the table.
Bone said: "The people who watch us regularly certainly know that we are good enough and I think we have proved that over the last three games. Maybe going through a bad spell made some people question if we had the bottle to stand up to the pressure.
"If we can win our games in hand then we will move up the table but I think we should be higher than we are."
County boss Neale Cooper has received a boost with the news goalkeeper Tony Bullock, Richard Hastings and David Lilley will all be available for tomorrow's trip to Ayr.
Bullock has missed the last two games for County due to a family bereavement, while Hastings has been on international duty with Canada at the Gold Cup.
On-loan Aberdeen defender Lilley missed last Saturday's game against Raith due to a knee injury. The return of the trio gives Cooper more options.
The County boss said: "It was disappointing that our game in midweek against Caley Thistle was postponed but the break has given Tony and Richard time to settle back in. David was also struggling to make the Caley game but he will be fine for Saturday. With Kenny Gilbert also back playing for us, the competition for places is better than it has been for some time."
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Ross County's players are being warned they will have to fight to regain a place in the Victoria Park top team for today's First Division clash with Ayr United.
International defender Richard Hastings, fresh from Gold Cup duty with Canada, is joined by former Premiership 'keeper Tony Bullock and Aberdeen's loan defender David Lilley in rejoining the squad after missing last week's game.
Consecutive victories for Neale Cooper's side, against Falkirk and Raith Rovers, could mean they will have to be content with a place on the bench.
Cooper said: "Tony, Richard and David are in contention but I can't see there being any major changes from the team which did so well against Raith last weekend.
"The combination of injuries and the players we have allowed to leave the club this season has meant the squad has been tight, but that situation is beginning to ease.
"We haven't had this type of competition for places for a while but it is great to have that extra edge now.
"The boys have been in great form this week and have trained really well, the attitude is excellent."
County have scored eight goals in their last two games, picking up six points in the process, and Cooper intends again to put the emphasis on attack when his side faces Ayr.
He said: "Ayr are the First Division's form team at the moment and will be flying high after making it through to the final of the League Cup.
"We know it will be a very difficult game but will go out in the same shape and approach the game in the same way as we have in recent weeks. I can't ask for more than a repeat of the performances from our last two games.
"We are preparing in the right way by travelling down to Ayr the night before the game and need to make sure we go out and play the right way."
County's only injury worry is French midfielder Cedric Anselin. He suffered a leg knock in training yesterday and will be the subject of a late fitness test.
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Ross County hope the experience striker Conor Gethins has gained from international football over the past week will work in their favour today.
The Dingwall side travels to Broadwood this afternoon to take on Clyde, a side County have beaten and been beaten by already this season.
Gethins returned from international duty with the Republic of Ireland under-19 team yesterday.
Neale Cooper hopes he can bring his experience into the County side as it tries to haul itself out of the relegation dogfight.
County have been enjoying better form of late, despite sitting second bottom of the First Division and have not lost in their past three matches.
Cooper said: "Things are starting to go better for us now and we have to win as many games as we can between now and the end of the season.
"There is a real air of confidence among the players and it's great for them to have regained that appetite for winning.
"We know it won't be easy against a Clyde team who hammered us down there before this season.
"But it's honours even because we managed to turn them over up here."
Cooper puts his side's resurgence in form down to the attacking formation he's adopted of late.
He said: "We are more adventurous now and I think it's been paying off for us.
"We just have to stay focused and get ourselves back up the table. The league is so tight that a couple of wins would put us right back up there."
He added: "Conor has just returned from his time with Eire and I hope he can bring the experience he's gleaned from that to County.
"I don't know at this stage whether or not to play him from the start."
David Lilley and Richard Hastings are both back in contention for a place after returning from injury and international duty respectively.
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