The Saddlers left-back turned his ankle in a pre-season defeat to Wolves and is expected to be out for a couple of weeks.
On a positive note, central defender Stephen Roberts is finally available having last played a competitive game for the club at the start of December due to knee and back problems.
Young forward Josh Craddock, who had been handed the number 24 shirt for the forthcoming campaign, has opted to leave the Banks's Stadium in order pursue full-time education at university.
Summer signings Mark Hughes, Steve Jones, Sam Parkin, Josh O'Keefe, Peter Till, Jamie Vincent and Matt Richards will all be hoping to make their competitive debuts in Saturday's League One clash, with Richards returning to play against the club where he has spent three separate loan spells in the past two seasons.
