Two Premier League sides who are crippled by unavailability meet on Saturday afternoon this weekend as Newcastle United host Southampton.
Injuries and international tournaments leave both John Carver and Ronald Koeman with paper-thin squads to choose from for the match at St James' Park.
Saints boss Koeman learned this week that Morgan Schneiderlin will not play again this month because of an adductor injury.
The reported Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur target played a key role in Southampton's 1-0 scalp of Manchester United at Old Trafford last weekend - a result which lifted them to third in the table.
His midfield partner Victor Wanyama is also missing for the trip to Tyneside after limping out of the FA Cup third-round replay victory over Ipswich Town on Wednesday, in which Shane Long scored the only goal.
Koeman was already without Jay Rodriguez and first-choice centre-back Toby Alderweireld because of injury, as well as in-form winger Sadio Mane, Mayo Yoshida and Emmanuel Mayuka on international duty.
Newcastle are perhaps even worse off when it comes to absentees, with top scorer Papiss Cisse and vice-captain Cheick Tiote at the Africa Cup of Nations and as many as 10 players in the treatment room.
Caretaker boss Carver must quickly start picking up results with what talent he does have at his disposal, with time running out for him to prove that he should be given the position on a permanent basis.
The Magpies have not won any of the three games that have been overseen by Alan Pardew's long-serving number two, although they put up more than a fight in going down 2-0 to Chelsea last weekend.
That result left United 10th in the table and with just one win from their last seven outings in all competitions, so Carver will be relieved that the most concerning of his injury worries seem to be over.
Senior figures such as Tim Krul, Fabricio Coloccini, Daryl Janmaat, Jack Colback, and Moussa Sissoko all returned against the Blues and will start again on Saturday as the hosts seek revenge for a 4-0 thrashing in the reverse fixture.
Vurnon Anita and Remy Cabella are likely to get another opportunity after playing their part in a valiant losing cause, but Yoan Gouffran may be axed in favour of Sammy Ameobi on the left wing.
Koeman's makeshift midfield could see James Ward-Prowse and Steve Davis asked to operate deeper than they often have been utilised this campaign, with Jack Cork starting for the first time since December 3 alongside them.
Long's cup winner is unlikely to be enough to get him a starting spot ahead of Graziano Pelle, who scored twice in the rout of the Magpies at St Mary's Stadium and has 11 goals for the season in total.
Florin Gardos has impressed in deputising for Alderweireld in a defence which has conceded four goals fewer than any other in the division. New boy Eljero Elia could play out wide after being rested in midweek.
Newcastle:
Form in Premier League: LLLWDL
Form in all competitions: LLWDLL
Possible starting lineup: Krul; Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett; Colback, Anita; Ameobi, Sissoko, Cabella; Perez
Southampton:
Form in Premier League: LWWDWW
Form in all competitions: WDWDWW
Possible starting lineup: Forster; Clyne, Gardos, Fonte, Bertrand; Cork, Davis, Ward-Prowse; Tadic, Elia; Pelle
Sports Mole says: 1-0
Joe Fish
