Joint-top scorer and 6 other players set to miss Bristol Rovers v Wrexham AFC | OneFootball

The Gas have all but 2 players available this Saturday afternoon, while the Red Dragons continue to miss important first-team regulars.

Managerless Bristol Rovers will host promotion-chasing Wrexham in an early kick-off at the Mem tomorrow afternoon.

While the table and uncertainty surrounding the home side dictates that the Red Dragons come into the tie as strong favourites, could injury and availability tip the scales?

With just two first-team players out for the Gas interim head-coach Dave Horseman acknowledged the unlikeliness of their strength in availability amid a typically turmultuous busy Christmas period.

"This is scary, we've got 92% availability, which is well above average," Horseman told BBC Radio Bristol.

This is in relative contrast to the visitors, who are missing some important first-team assets.

Lino Sousa

Having impressed in the opening portion of the campaign, Aston Villa loanee Lino Sousa has endured a frustrating period out with a hamstring injury.

Sustained in training in early November, it was initially reported that the Lisbon-born wing-back would be out for "at least a month".

Having returned to low-intensity training, the England U19 international is predicted to return early in the new year.

"Lino's closer but not ready for this weekend," Horseman told BBC Radio Bristol.

Jack Hunt

34-year-old Jack Hunt has been largely uninvolved this campaign, currently out with a calf tear.

Before his departure, Matt Taylor stated: "I don't think we'll see him this side of the Christmas period, so he's out for a significant period of time."

With his contract expiring in June, and inevitably being absent for the opening section of the next regime, Jack Hunt may well have already played his final game for the Gas.

George Evans

While George Evans will miss this weekend's clash, the central midfielder received a boost in his recovery from ankle surgery this week.

Having played 65 minutes for the reserves this week, Phil Parkinson informed The Leader that the Welsh midfielder "could be in contention over the festive period", however, it is implied Saturday's clash arrives too soon for George Evans to feature.

Jack Marriott

Former Peterborough forward Jack Marriott remains unavailable for the foreseeable, having suffered a broken leg in early October.

Remarkably, the centre-forward is the club's joint-top scorer this season, with five goals in ten matches, exemplifying the importance of his eventual return.

Arthur Okonkwo

Similarly, Wrexham are still deeply missing the services of their esteemed shot-stopper Arthur Okonkwo.

The 23-year-old keeper had a superb start to life in League One, but a broken wrist has seen him sidelined since early November.

Parkinson revealed earlier this week that his first-choice keeper is making strong progress in his recovery.

"Arthur saw the specialist on Wednesday and got really positive feedback about the way that the bone's healed, he's been back out on the grass with us in the last week," Parkinson told BBC Sport Wales.

Callum Burton

In what has been a mini-crisis in the goalkeeping position for Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's men, Wrexham no. 2 Callum Burton is predicted to be out for the rest of the season with a thigh tear.

“Very bad news, I’m so disappointed for him. It could be the season over for him,” Parkinson told the Wrexham Insider.

38-year-old Mark Howard has been between the sticks for the Welsh side's last three league fixtures, and will likely make it four on Saturday.

James Jones

Scottish midfielder James Jones suffered a recurrence in an ongoing foot injury against Crewe Alexandra in the EFL Trophy last week.

Form and fitness dictate that the former Lincoln City man, a regular cog in each of Wrexham's back-to-back promotions, has only played 26 minutes of first-team football this week.