Motherwell defender Shaun Hutchinson has been ruled out of Friday's Scottish Premier League clash with Hibernian with a hamstring problem.
The centre-back suffered the injury just before the halfway point of Motherwell's 1-0 defeat by Hearts on Sunday and is likely to miss more than one game.
"Hutchie will be out for a couple of weeks. We'd be very delighted if he were available for the St Johnstone game the week after but I think that might even be pushing it too early," Motherwell boss Stuart McCall said.
"But he is certainly out on Friday night. Adam Cummins is free from his suspension so it's like for like, a centre-half back and a centre-half out."
Motherwell are looking to end a run of three consecutive defeats, which followed a disappointing end to their trip to Aberdeen when they conceded a two-goal lead in the final six minutes.
McCall's side suffered successive 2-0 defeats against the Old Firm before Danny Grainger's long-range strike gave Hearts victory at Tynecastle.
But McCall is refusing to read too much into their run, which has seen them drop from top spot in the SPL to sixth place.
"We looked at the run of league games coming up, Aberdeen and Hearts away and Celtic at home, are as difficult as you can possibly get," he said.
"We were really pleased with the performance at Aberdeen until we lost two goals in the last six minutes and the Hearts game was two very evenly matched sides.
"Grainger scores with a terrific 30-yard shot and you have to hold your hands up at times.
"We knew how strong Aberdeen are and Hearts with a full complement are a match for anyone at Tynecastle, and Celtic as we have seen last night and in recent games, they had their strongest side out and were outstanding.
"We now have three out of four games at home and we have got to look to take a couple of victories, but every game is tight.
"You want to move on and pick up three points as soon as you possibly can but I'm sure between now and the end of the season we will have highs and lows.
"We can't get too high with a couple of wins and likewise with a couple of defeats.
"I'm sure every manager with their strongest 11 will be confident of getting three points in this division.
"It's consistency, it's getting that little break."
Motherwell are hoping for a more successful Friday clash with Hibs than occurred last December, when a floodlight fire forced a half-time abandonment.
But there have been several recent meetings between the sides that spark happier memories.
McCall said: "We've had some great encounters with Hibs here in the last couple of seasons.
"Everyone will remember the 6-6 game, I was actually sitting watching it.
"Last season we had a 4-3 with Michael Higdon's hat-trick and the 2-2 cup game that went to penalty kicks was a terrific game of football."
