Leicester Tigers have been forced to bring in Nottingham prop Michael Holford on loan for Sunday's Premiership trip to Wasps.
Their front-row resources have been stretched to the limit this week and the former Tiger has returned to Welford Road as cover.
Leicester return to league action without props Dan Cole (England), Martin Castrogiovanni (Italy) and Marcos Ayerza (Argentina), who are all on international duty.
Boris Stankovich will also be missing after being banned for three weeks at an RFU disciplinary hearing last night.
The 32-year-old Stankovich pleaded guilty to two charges after being red-carded in Sunday's LV= Cup win against London Irish, and being cited for "reckless use of the boot" in the same game.
They could also be without Samoan prop Logovi'i Mulipola, who is battling to recover from a knee injury.
At yesterday's club press conference, Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill was not expecting Stankovich to escape punishment, and said that the club had to act accordingly.
"Boris is unlikely to feature this weekend but Logo will hopefully be fit to start," said Cockerill.
"We have Jonny Harris, Kieran Brookes and Fraser Balmain, and we have brought Michael Holford in from Nottingham to bolster those front-row options.
"It's not perfect, but we have to trust those guys if they need to step into the breach. They will have to get on with it."
While the front-row may be a cause for concern, Cockerill has had the unexpected boost of No.8 Thomas Waldrom's return from the England camp.
The likes of Louis Deacon, Graham Kitchener and skipper Geordan Murphy are also set to return to the squad for the trip to Adams Park, where Wasps are unbeaten this season.
"I am pleasantly surprised to have Tom Waldrom back," said Cockerill. "If he plays well for us, he puts himself in the shop window for England again.
"Anthony Allen is also back from England, he is fit and good to go.
"With Dan Bowden, George Ford and Matt Smith fit, Mat Tait playing well, and Adam Thompstone, Niall Morris and Geordy all in there, it means there are certainly some good options for us in the backs."
