Calvin Bassey, Leon Balogun and Joe Aribo all appear set to miss a chunk of action for Rangers at the turn of the year when Nigeria mount an Africa Cup of Nations challenge.
The biennial tournament was originally due to be held in the summer before being postponed to January amid the pandemic.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) switched the tournament to odd-numbered years last decade as well as shifting its usual timeframe from winter to summer to help European clubs.
But the 2021 edition's postponement has been unavoidable and 24 countries will head for hosts Cameroon over January and February.
Manager Steven Gerrard will be able to count on striker Fashion Sakala as past champions Zambia missed out on qualification.
But Nigeria sailed through their group and go in as one of the tournament favourites.
Bassey was called up to the Super Eagles for the first time in this international break.
And he joined defender Balogun and playmaker Aribo, who have 40 and 10 caps respectively.
Part of the period the AFCON takes up falls during the Scottish Premiership winter break.
But Rangers have a Scottish Cup tie and three league games while the tournament is on and another fixture three days after the final would be an impossibility if Nigeria go all the way.
The first Scottish Cup weekend on January 22 and the home clash against Livingston on January 26 both appear well out of the question in any case.
Then an away day to Ross County follows on January 29, the same day as the first AFCON quarter-final.
Gers then entertain Hearts at Ibrox a day before the final on February 5 while the other half of Edinburgh are the visitors when Hibs come to town on February 9.
