Steve Evans has issued an injury update on Riley Harbottle and Keenan Gough ahead of Bristol Rovers' trip to Gillingham in Sky Bet League Two.
The Pirates are back in action after losing 2-0 to Grimsby Town at Blundell Park last Saturday, with Kieran Green and Geza David Turi scoring first-half goals for the Mariners.
Alongside the defeat, the Gas were also dealt an injury blow, with defender Harbottle forced off with a hamstring injury immediately after Grimsby's opener.
The centre-back has started all six league fixtures this season and captained Rovers in their 5-3 win over Newport County, with Evans saying the 25-year-old will not feature against Gillingham.
"Riley Harbottle will miss the weekend," said Evans. "He has a small tear, so we are probably looking at three weeks. When I say a small tear, it's millimetres. So, it's three or four weeks for Riley.
"He's gutted, but that's where we are, and that's why we have Ciarán Kelly and Alfie Kilgour vying for a place on Saturday, maybe even both, so we'll see.
"There were reasons for the stretcher. Because it's a hamstring, you don't want any further issues. It was well managed by Gavin Crowe. He is a very experienced medical man whom we buzz every day when we see him. He is very good at what he does, and he looked after Riley."
One player who could return this weekend is Keenan Gough. The midfielder joined the Gas on loan from Sky Bet Championship side Charlton Athletic in the summer and impressed in his two league starts but has not featured in the squad since the win over Newport.
Evans said Gough is pushing to return to the squad, but that they have to be careful before putting him back in.
"We will make a decision for Saturday, and we'll probably make that after training tomorrow," said the manager. "He's been on the training ground, and he'll be fit and ready to go. We'll determine that we want another few days, a week or a game on Monday or Tuesday at the training ground to make sure he's right, because he's a big, big player for us.
"You need to be careful because he's so enthusiastic to be back. The medical team said he wanted to be sprinting in week one when he shouldn't be anywhere near it. When Keenan Gough is available and we think he is properly ready, he'll be back in for sure.
"With Keenan, it's been quite hard to hold him back because he's been hanging around like a bad smell outside of my office, trying to show he's fit. If he's right for Saturday, he'll be involved."
