Bristol City will have to reach the play-offs without Korey Smith after manager Lee Johnson confirmed the key midfielder is out for the rest of the season.
Smith has been plagued by injuries throughout the campaign after suffering a knee injury in August which kept him out for seven months, he then had further issues with his knee during the 1-0 victory at Middlesbrough and, most damaging of all, the foot injury sustained against Reading on Good Friday.
Before the match against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough, Johnson claimed the 28-year-old's foot was so swollen he was unable to bear weight on it and would undergo another x-ray on Tuesday.
However, in his post-match press conference Johnson simply stated: "Korey is out for the rest of the season."
The Bristol City head coach also revealed that winger Callum O'Dowda has suffered a setback regarding his knee injury having not played since March 12.
The Republic of Ireland international had resumed light training and his involvement down the final stretch of the season was mooted by Johnson on Friday, however the latest update regarding the 23-year-old is not as rosy, implying his return to the first team will be delayed.
"Callum seems to be having some sort of physical/psychological issue with his knee," Johnson added. "He's still getting some pain so he's taken a step back."
O'Dowda's pace and trickery at this stage of the season would very much be an asset to the Robins but they do have players with similar attributes in Niclas Eliasson, Jamie Paterson and Kasey Palmer.
Smith's absence will be more keenly felt however as, Johnson himself admits, Bristol City don't possess a like-for-like midfield replacement who can equally be a defensive destructive force and provide energy going forward.
