Jack Byrne's availability for Champions League duty hangs in the balance with Shamrock Rovers sweating on scan results.
The Republic of Ireland international hasn’t played in five weeks since injuring his calf in the shock league defeat away to Drogheda United on May 23.
Byrne is having a further scan on the problem and Hoops boss Stephen Bradley is waiting to hear if he can play any part at home to Hibernians of Malta next Tuesday.
Playmaker Byrne will miss this Friday’s league game away to Finn Harps, and so too will Danny Mandroiu and Neil Farrugia although Richie Towell should return.
All four players missed Monday’s 2-1 derby win away to St Pat’s that followed on so quickly after Friday’s 1-0 win over arch rivals Bohemians.
Byrne, Mandroiu and Towell bring creativity to the champions ’ ranks, and Bradley hopes they can play a part in Europe next week.
But he will adopt a bigger picture approach by erring on the side of caution with the potential for further European dates down the line.
Bradley, who saw his side open a 10-point lead at the top of the Premier Division on Monday, eyed up Finn Harps and said: “Richie will be fine. Neil will struggle.
“Jack had another scan (yesterday) to see where we are with that one. We did think it would be five weeks when it happened with Jack and we're just getting there now.
“But we have to be cautious and see the scan. If he's not right, we won't rush him but you want him back with Finn Harps and Europe around the corner.
“I think Danny will struggle for Friday, but Tuesday looks likely. Danny hurt his ankle in Dundalk and it was the same ankle against Bohs.”
And Bradley insists he cannot afford to take any chances with key players as the Hoops prepare for their Champions League campaign.
“We just don't do it, never do, unless it's coming to the last games of the season and it's to win a league,” he explained.
“In general, we always go on the cautious side with the players because you have to think of the long term with them.
“I never liked it as a player playing with injections or playing with something. Just didn't like it and felt it brought more problems down the road, so we don't do that.
“If they are not right, we will be cautious. We want them back for Europe but we will be cautious.”
Aaron Greene and Rory Gaffney stepped up in their absence over the last two games - both Dublin derbies.
Greene scored a sublime solo goal against St Pat’s while Gaffney nabbed Friday’s winner against Bohs.
Greene came in off the touchline, nutmegged Jack Scott and left Darragh Burns in a spin before drilling home an unstoppable shot from an impossible angle.
And Bradley said: “He seems to score goals like that, brilliant goals. I think of Shels, Europe a few years ago in Cyprus and his header against Pat's last year.
“He scores really good goals and Monday was another. He looked like he had nowhere to go, so it's a fantastic individual goal.
“The last couple of games, Aaron has looked back to himself. Him and Rory are a real handful for anyone when they're in that mood.
“When you have two (forwards) who can go up against centre halves and cause them real problems, it stops them pressing us because you can pin them back very quickly.
“The two of them together were very good.”
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