RONNIE Moore faces a defensive headache as Oldham Athletic prepare to make the trip to Chesterfield on Saturday.

Guy Branston was already suspended after his fifth booking of the season against Swindon Town last weekend, and has been joined by Gareth Owen whose sending off against Brentford makes him ineligible.

With Will Haining injured and Chris Swailes having only just started training, Moore faces recalling either Danny Hall or Stefan Stam who only completed 90 minutes for the reserves against Sheffield United on Wednesday.

Richard Butcher's expected absence with a broken nose may also mean a change of formation with right wing-back Mark Hughes expected to partner Richie Wellens in the centre of midfield.

Moore said: "If we leave the system as a 3-4-3, it leaves us short on the right-hand side, so we'll have to see.

"We're short of a domineering centre-half as (Terrell) Forbes prefers to be like a rash and all over a striker, (Rob) Scott is more of a sweeper and Danny (Hall) is more of a footballer than a centre-half, so we'll have to do some work on coping with the second ball rather than the first ball.

"Chris Swailes will step his training up next week in case we need to force him in the side over Christmas, Will Haining's feeling good but you've got to be careful with Will - sometimes it feels brilliant and then he's out for six weeks.

"Chris Killen's going to train but (Chris) Porter's still feeling a bit sickly. I'd imagine though we won't be far off having a full squad next week."