Jonny Evans is out of Northern Ireland's potentially decisive Euro 2016 qualifier against Greece because of a hamstring injury.
Michael O'Neill's men, who need two points from two games to qualify, will reach the finals in France with victory in Belfast on Thursday.
West Brom's Evans limped out of the 2-0 loss to Crystal Palace on Saturday.
The 27-year-old could feature in the final qualifier away to Finland on Sunday.
He has remained with West Brom for treatment and will join up with the Northern Ireland squad on Thursday.
"West Brom have been excellent in terms of co-operation on that," said O'Neill.
"We always felt Thursday would be too soon but he hasn't ruled out Sunday, neither have we and neither have the club."
Evans' absence is a further blow to O'Neill, who also has three key men suspended.
Norwich forward Kyle Lafferty, whose seven goals have helped put NI on the verge of next summer's tournament, Derby defender Chris Baird and Fleetwood right-back Conor McLaughlin are all banned.
Kilmarnock's Josh Magennis could make his first competitive start for his country as Lafferty's replacement, with Watford's Craig Cathcart and Manchester United's Paddy McNair also in line to make the XI.
"I genuinely believe that we have the players to step in and deal with this game," said O'Neill.
"Obviously the injury to Jonny at the weekend was a blow but one thing I have noticed in those three days, maybe more so than in the past, is that the squad is stronger now than at any time I've been in charge."
Northern Ireland have never qualified for the European Championship finals and have not featured in any major tournament since the 1986 World Cup.
However, they have a one point lead over Romania at the of qualifying Group F and will be through to the finals regardless of their own results if Hungary fail to beat both the Faroe Islands and Greece.
Bottom-of-the-table Greece are still without a permanent manager after a deal to bring in German Bernd Schuster fell through last week.
Under-21 coach Kostas Tsanas continues to act as interim boss following the sacking of Uruguayan Sergio Markarian in August.
Greece will be without Roma defender Kostas Manolas, who is suspended, and injured Bayer Leverkusen defender Kyriakos Papadopoulos.
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