Hibernian will go into Sunday's Premiership clash against Celtic without several key players.
Shaun Maloney's side will now be without forwards Elias Melkersen and James Scott, who were on the bench for the 2-0 victory over Ross County last weekend.
That takes the number of Hibs absentees to eight.
Which doesn't make ideal preparation as they prepare to go head-to-head with the league leaders, who will be wanting to put their Europa Conference League exit to Bodo/Glimt behind them and keep a strong grip of their three point lead over Rangers in the title race.
Maloney told Edinburgh Evening News: "We had two 17-year-olds on the bench last week and we'll probably need another two or three against Celtic. That's where we're at.
"I've never really seen anything like this before but that's football. Our medical team is working really hard and the injuries are all impact injuries from tackles and that can happen, unfortunately. It is a testing time.
"The Under-18s are doing really well; some of their results have been really positive and I think even during this really difficult period with injuries, it also shows the players that the ones who are performing well will train with us.
"I understand the history of this club so you have to get young players training with you as much as possible."
Jacob Blaney and Oscar MacIntyre were named on the bench last week against Ross County and although they were unused substitutes, Maloney believes that if you are good enough then you are old enough to feature in his team.
He added: "They're doing particularly well, so they will make the bench for the first team.
"We hope we can use that to show other players around the country that, if they come to Hibs and do well, and have the right mentality, there is a pathway to the first team.”
Hibs currently lie fourth in the table, but there's just three points separating them and ninth place Livingston in a tight battle for top six and potential European football.
