Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe has been getting to grips with the club's injury crisis as he prepares for his first game back in charge.
Howe, who returned to the south coast from Burnley last week, watched last weekend's victory over Leyton Orient from the stands.
Midfield duo Richard Hughes and Mark Molesley are both definite absentees for the visit of Ronnie Moore's league leaders.
Hughes limped off against the O's after straining his right hamstring and is ruled out for up to four weeks. Molesley has been struggling with an Achilles tendon problem since the start of the season and is still a couple of weeks away.
However, Harry Arter has an outside chance of a return. He has stepped up his recovery from a rib injury and faces a late fitness test.
Long-term absentees Stephen Purches (broken leg), Daryl Flahavan (shoulder) and Charlie Sheringham (foot) all remain out.
Tranmere attacking duo Andy Robinson and Joe Thompson are injury doubts.
Robinson has been sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained in the win at Scunthorpe at the start of the month.
Former Rochdale man Thompson has a swollen ankle after being on the receiving end of a robust challenge from Joe Edwards - later dismissed for a second booking - during last weekend's 3-2 win over Yeovil that left Moore far from impressed.
The Prenton Park boss said: "The lad should have been sent off for the tackle he did on him. If he'd have done it on a Saturday night he'd have got locked up for grievous bodily harm, but he got away with it.
"Joe has got a nasty bruise right on top of his ankle and on his shin bone. If he hadn't had pads on he'd have been in deep, deep trouble, there's no doubt about that."
Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro remains on the sidelines after the forward suffered a broken metatarsal in the 1-0 victory over Notts County.
