Cove Rangers defender Daniel Higgins is facing six to eight weeks on the sidelines.
The 21-year-old sustained a hamstring injury in the early stages of last Saturday’s 6-1 loss to Annan Athletic at Galabank.
A scan has shown the severity of the tear and it is likely to keep Higgins out for some time.
Cove manager Paul Hartley said: “It’s a grade three injury so it’s a bad one. I know Daniel very well and he has come in at the start of the season and has been doing really well for us.
“He’s fitted in really well as part of the group and has been an important player for us.
“He took a bad one and we got it confirmed by a scan earlier in the week. He’ll miss at least six weeks and it could be longer.”
League 2 leaders Cove play second-placed Edinburgh City tomorrow at Ainslie Park.
As well as Higgins, Hartley is without Chris Antoniazzi and Matthew Smith due to injury and Declan Glass is suspended. Harry Milne is a major doubt after injuring a hamstring last weekend.
Captain Mitch Megginson, midfielder Fraser Fyvie and defender Alan Redford may return from their injuries as Cove look to get back to winning ways and move eight points clear of Edinburgh at the summit.
Hartley added: “It’s a big game for us. But it’s one we look forward to after a disappointing result.
“We didn’t play like we can against Annan. We played well for about 20 minutes and then things changed.
“But we’ve an opportunity this week to put that right and it’s a cracking game for both sides and both teams will respect each other.
“It’s the top teams in the league meeting and both have had great starts to the season so it should be a cracking game with plenty riding on it.”
The sides met on the opening day of the season with Cove running out 5-0 winners.
But Hartley says that match won’t have any bearing on tomorrow.
When asked if Edinburgh would be fired-up as a result of their thrashing in the Granite City, he said: “As a footballer you should be fired-up every week.
“It shouldn’t take a defeat last week or losing the first game of the season to get you fired-up.
“We’re not even thinking about that day. It’s long gone and a lot has happened since.
“We’ve got to be fired-up for this game and I’m sure they will be as well.”
Edinburgh were beaten 2-1 by Queen’s Park last weekend when Cove lost at Annan.