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Tranmere Rovers FC face the prospect of going into the crucial League One survival encounter against Leyton Orient tomorrow without half a dozen front-line players.

Rovers, looking to secure a result of Brisbane Road that keeps them out of the relegation zone ahead of the final game at home to Bradford City next weekend, will be missing the creative influence of Jason Koumas and James Wallace.

Both were ruled out by caretaker manager John McMahon who is less than hopeful about fellow midfielder Steve Jennings, defenders Ian Goodison and Liam Ridehalgh and wide attacker John Louis Akpa Akpro.

“The injury situation is not very healthy,” McMahon admitted. “It is a long casualty list.

“It’s a question of monitoring those players and hopefully they are not going to be missing for next weekend as well.

“One or two might have a little squeak on Saturday but I doubt it. I won’t rule them out until Saturday morning but a few are really struggling with knocks.”

McMahon reports Abdulai Baggie and Gboly Ariyibi are not yet ready to make a return to first-team action and Tranmere cannot recall left-back Evan Horwood from loan duty at Northampton Town because that arrangement runs until the end of the season.

He said: “I think we will be delving into the youth set-up for players this weekend.

“We have had these problems all season and if players are injured there is nothing I can do.

“All I can do is pick the next best players available.”

Koumas missed two of the last three games with a foot injury and has been playing with painkilling injections for the past six weeks.

Wallace isn’t over the groin injury he sustained a month ago.

Jennings has been attempting to play through a knee injury and veteran centre back Goodison is troubled by a thigh problem.

The casualty list was swelled during the Easter Monday draw with Sheffield United when both Akpa Akpro (thigh) and full-back Ridehalgh (knee) left the action before half-time with injuries.

Tranmere won’t be getting any help from Orient.

Manager Russell Slade says he has no intention of resting players, even though the Londoners’ place in the promotion play-offs is guaranteed. Orient slipped to fifth place following Monday’s 3-1 home defeat by champions Wolves but cannot finish any lower, while third place is still up for grabs.

After playing Tranmere they make the trip to MK Dons on the final day of the season.

Slade said: “We’re playing once a week now, it’s a time for preparation, to make sure we are ready.

“I think it’s important to finish as high as we can, because I think we deserve it.”

Slade is hopeful defender Elliot Omozusi and striker Kevin Lisbie will be fit to face Tranmere after they missed out against Wolves through injury.