Rangers' hopes of halting Celtic's treble push have been dealt a major blow with captain Lee Wallace ruled out of this month's William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final.
And a defensive injury crisis will see youngsters David Bates and Myles Beerman handed their first-team debuts when Rangers visit Kilmarnock in the Ladbrokes Premiership on Wednesday night.
Wallace has undergone surgery on the abdominal problem he picked up playing in Scotland's friendly against Canada last month.
The injury could also see the left-back miss the second leg of this month's Old Firm double-header, with the Premiership clash taking place at Ibrox six days after the April 23 cup showdown at Hampden.
The news, which new Light Blues boss Pedro Caixinha broke during his pre-match press conference ahead of the club's midweek Rugby Park trip, is the last thing the Rangers faithful would want to hear as Brendan Rodgers' newly crowned Premiership champions target a clean sweep.
But Caixinha remains optimistic.
"Lee Wallace should be finishing his surgery right now so maybe for the next three to four weeks he will be out of the team," he said.
"His problem is in the stomach area but he can still celebrate with us at the end of the season, which means I hope to have him back for further on than the semi-final."
As well as Wallace, the Portuguese coach is missing centre-backs Clint Hill, Philippe Senderos (both calf) and Rob Kiernan (knee) as well as full-back Lee Hodson (fever).
And Caixinha surprised reporters by taking the unusual step of naming his starting line-up to face Killie in his first away game in charge 36 hours before kick-off.
Rangers will start with Wes Foderingham in goal and a back four of James Tavernier, 20-year-old former Raith defender Bates, Danny Wilson and Beerman - an 18-year-old Malta international signed from Manchester City.
Sitting in front of that inexperienced back line will be Andy Halliday and Jason Holt, while striker Joe Garner will be supported by attackers Barrie McKay, Emerson Hyndman and Martyn Waghorn.
But the Light Blues boss is not worried about his patchwork defence.
"It is not important which players are out and which players are in," said the Rangers manager, who raised eyebrows when he hooked three members of his back four at half-time during Saturday's 1-1 draw with Motherwell.
"It's important the players we have starting the game we trust and believe in. After all, we're Rangers. And the players from our youth squad have to be ready when these chances come. So this is the moment.
"I've passed my trust and confidence to the guys. Now I've told them to go to Kilmarnock, enjoy it and do their work.
"This is our first one playing away but I've already told the players that playing away or playing at home is exactly the same thing. Three points is really what matters.
"We know the opponent will make it difficult but we also know that we believe in ourselves and are ready to fight for the points."
Kenny Miller admitted this week he fears his third Ibrox stint could be nearing its end.
The 37-year-old striker's contract expires at the end of May and he is still waiting to be offered fresh terms.
Caixinha, though, is still weighing up his judgement on his new squad and will not rush the process.
He said: "We have players who are here until 2020, while Kenny's contract expires in two months. But all the players are in the same state right now.
"It doesn't matter if they have a contract, because I will decide if they will stay or not.
"Kenny may think (his Rangers career is coming to an end) but I will be the one to choose the right time to tell him, along with all the others.
"We are assessing the players on a daily basis because we have to know the players that we have very well.
"Behind the football player you have a human being, a social man. It is very important to know him like that, because I cannot disassociate the player from the man.
"We're doing that on the training pitch but the best conditions to do that is under match conditions, when we face difficult situations. Then you know the reality of the players' character.
"I do believe it is very important for us to have players with character. This is a massive club - not all the players can be Rangers players."
