Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale will be without midfielder Jordan Tillson for the visit of Stevenage this weekend.
Tillson is suspended for one match having been sent-off against Forest Green Rovers for two bookable offences.
However, Tis does have players returning to the squad including midfielder Ryan Harley who started the last League Two match at Colchester United and came on as a second-half substitute in Tuesday’s FA Cup second round replay win over Rovers.
“Jordan Tillson will miss the game through suspension, which after being out for a couple of months is a tough one for him to take, but everyone else is making progress,” said Tis.
“It was a big night for Ryan Harley, having played at Colchester United, to play again on Tuesday night.
“It was an important week for him to get through those two games.
“Dan Seaborne played his first game for even longer. So, there is progress being made, and Lee Holmes and Robbie Simpson are both back in full-time training. Lee is probably closer to selection than Robbie just because of the length of time that Robbie has been out, but we are making some good progress.
“I would like to think that we have got a healthier and healthier squad and if I can keep it that way through the Christmas and new year period, I will be really looking forward to the second half of the season.”
Stevenage go into the match without a win in their last seven league matches. However, they have recorded two victories in the FA Cup – including a 5-2 win over Swindon Town – during that time and Tis is wary of the threat they pose.
“I think all teams at this point of the year are trying to settle their season and establish where they sit in the league,” said Tis. “I would imagine that Stevenage are coming down to us with the target of winning the game.
“They made it very difficult for us last season – I think we got a late equaliser against them. I imagine they will still harbour ambitions of making the play-offs, because I think they showed last year that they have that capability.
“The differences between these sides in League Two are so fine that any side is capable of winning a game and I imagine they will fancy their chances as much as we do.”