Stevenage have been rocked by two more injuries to key personnel ahead of their FA Cup tie with Guiseley.

Carl Piergianni and Dan Phillips both picked up knocks in the 4-1 loss to Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday night, the skipper pulling a calf muscle after a slip while the midfielder taking a bash on the ankle that required a trip to hospital.

And with the centre-half position already down to the bare bones, it is not what Boro manager Alex Revell wanted ahead of the visit of a Northern Premier League side out to spring a famous cup shock.

The boss said: "Decimated may not be the right word but we've picked up more injuries in the week in the game [with Bolton]. 

"We've now lost our captain for four weeks and that's a blow to us because of what he does and his leadership. 

"Dan Phillips was in A&E on Tuesday night after the game and is currently in a protective boot and Louis Thompson is another who's suffered a set-back. 

"He missed Rotherham because of suspension but he had a groin injury too. 

"A lot of the injuries have come in games rather than in training, so a lot have been in contact but are unfortunately just moments in games that we can't control. 

"We are being tested for sure but when you get tested, people have to step up, they have to deliver. 

"And the people that have been waiting to play, they are going to need to play time and time again for the next few weeks until we get those players back. 

"We saw a couple of weeks ago when we asked Nathan Thompson to come back in and play so much. 

"The intensity of the games he had to play, we wanted to take him out at some point, but because of where we were at the time, we couldn't and we suffered his injury. 

"But people have to stand up and be counted now."

The club already had a long-term injury list to deal with and while the prognosis on all of them is positive, they are nearly all out for the foreseeable future.

Revell said: "We’re hoping Nathan Thompson is back in the next few weeks but in regards to the others, they’re still a fair few weeks away. 

"Charlie [Goode] and [Dan Sweeney] are both making good progress but for both of them, it’s time for a bone to heal or for ligaments to heal. 

"Jake Forster-Caskey is working exceptionally hard, it's been a long time for him, but he's got the right focus. 

"Louis Appere had an operation on Saturday so we're still looking at probably six to eight weeks for him. 

"And then, like I said, there are two new boys added to that list. 

"A lot of those players would be in most starting XIs here and they're big misses but the players that are coming into the team have to show their levels on a consistent basis and show why they should be in the team and whey they should stay there."

It gives the boss a selection headache, although on the flip side tactics, personnel and formation almost sort themselves out.

"Well, you can pick the four defenders," Revell said matter of factly. "We've [only] got four fit defenders.  

"Potentially would you have gone to a back three or stayed as a back four? Personnel dictates that now. 

"Defensively we are being tested but that’s the hand we’ve been given at the moment. 

"And we've got enough quality in forward areas and midfielders to go and show what we're about. 

"Whoever goes on the pitch has to be ready to deliver, that's the only message we can say until we get a few back. 

"We have to make sure the players we have are at their best."

Boro can name nine substitutes for the game and despite the fact they have their own FA Youth Cup match on Monday, Revell admits some of the club's youngsters will be included.

He said: "There'll be a couple in there. We work closely with the academy to make sure that the people coming into this environment are doing well and deserve to come up. 

"To get into the first-team as a 16, 17, 18-year-old, you have to be at the level because otherwise, you do them and everybody a disservice. 

"Those involved will be people we've seen before and ones we know can compete and we know have got qualities. 

"We’re not just going to fill the bench because there's space, it has to be a reward for their performances."