The Iron head to Leicester City on Saturday (3pm kick-off), and have doubts over a number of players.

There are question marks over on-loan defender Jack Hobbs and striker Martin Paterson, who have both been suffering from illness this week.

As a boost though, the midfield pairing of Jim Goodwin and Ian Morris trained on Thursday after missing the earlier week's sessions through injury.

Striker Jonathan Forte (who will not report back from international duty until Saturday) and makeshift right-back Jack Cork are definite absentees from the squad.

So there will be at least one enforced change, as Cork sits out the next three matches through suspension after being red-carded in the match against Ipswich Town last weekend.

Izzy Iriekpen returned from illness in the reserves' midweek win over Darlington so could possibly start in his place.

Hobbs, if passed fit, is another option though.

As is Cliff Byrne - who got the go-ahead from a specialist to return from his leg injury.

Marcus Williams also returned from a hamstring injury in the second string game on Tuesday, so will be pushing for a recall.

Kevan Hurst, the two-goal match-winner in that match, hopes to have done enough to impress manager Nigel Adkins and could be another option.

The likes of Curtis Weston and Ben May, who both performed so well when coming on as substitutes against Ipswich last week, will also fancy their chances.

Two players poised to turn out against a former club on Saturday are Leicester-born Ian Baraclough and striker Geoff Horsfield, who spent the final three months of last season on loan at the Walkers Stadium.

Adkins is keeping his cards close to his chest in terms of giving hints away about his team though.

It is a huge game for Scunthorpe against their relegation rivals.

Should they win, it will blow the battle for survival wide open.

That, aligned with a favourable outcome in next week's opponents Sheffield Wednesday's home clash against Stoke City, will result in a very good afternoon indeed for Adkins and his troops.

Six points adrift of safety with six matches remaining though, multiple victories are needed now.

The Iron travel down to Leicester on Friday afternoon, leaving no stone unturned in their preparation for what is, arguably, the biggest game of the season so far for both sides.