Dundee United boss Jackie McNamara joked that they may have to go easy in training but the Tannadice injury crisis is no laughing matter.
The latest casualty is midfielder John Rankin, who has had a scan done on his knee and may need surgery.
He appears to have no greater than a 50-50 chance of facing Inverness Caley Thistle on Saturday and McNamara will have to give his pack a serious shuffle this weekend.
“We have so many injuries I need to make sure there are no bad challenges in training!” joked the United boss.
“John Rankin has had a scan on his knee and he will see a specialist to see if any work is needing done. He has felt it for most of the season but he played through it, like a number of the boys have done with injuries.
“We will see what happens in the next few days as regards his chances of playing. I just hope the boys can get a good rehab and be ready for pre-season which is the important thing.
“If we had reached the Scottish Cup final some of them could have held off the surgery for example Sean Dillon with his ankle. But at the same time it is really important that they are back and raring to go for the start of next season.”
It looks like United could be without out-of-contract trio Willo Flood, Jon Daly and Barry Douglas for that 2013-14 campaign.
Douglas will travel to Poland to assess a possible move to Lech Poznan, Daly appears to be bound for Rangers and Aberdeen are the latest side understood to be showing an interest in Flood.
“I have an idea in my head of how many I would like in for next season but we will just have to wait and see what happens with those out of contract and see who is available,” added McNamara.
“There is not a lot of progress with players who are out of contract. The likes of Willo and the rest are weighing up their options.
“Barry Douglas is the latest one after he was linked with Poland. They (Poznan) have asked us for permission so he can go over and have a look and it will be down to him if he wants to do that because he is out of contract.
“He has been great in the last couple of months. He has listened and learned and he is doing things properly. He is improving all the time and I want to keep him but I would never criticise anyone if they want to go and try another country.
“If they feel it’s going to help their career or learn about a different culture then that is their perogative but selfishly I hope he signs for us. It will be down to the player, any decision they make in their life is up to them.
“But I think we can build something and he’d like it here. I’m optimistic about the future here and ambitious to go and do well. I want the same for the players.”
Turning to matters on the park, McNamara stressed that his team are desperate to get their first post-split victory up in the Highlands despite their injury woes.
“It is important for us to win this weekend for confidence but anyone looking from the outside can see the problems we have had,” he said.
“It is not like we have been getting battered every game and have been well beaten. The little things like concentration levels have cost us and maybe with other teams chasing a European place while we are not has been a factor.
“The whole back four from the start of the season is out this weekend which isn’t good for our goalkeeper Rado Cierzniak either.
“A settled back four helps,” added the manager.
“Rado has been excellent for us but he’s got an Achilles problem so he’s another we hope is right for pre-season. It’s been a good season for Inverness, just as it has been for St Johnstone, Ross County and Motherwell.
“They’ll be pushing for that third spot on Saturday so we are in for a battle and we have to try and match that and hopefully we will get a positive result.”
Meanwhile, United’s young goalkeeper Phil Anderson has been named in the Scotland under-20 squad for the ADO Den Haag Youth Tournament which takes place in the Netherlands later this month.