Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill is keen to step up the recovery of Freddy Bouma and John Carew.
O'Neill is hoping to fix up a behind-closed-doors friendly next week to give the pair much-needed match practice in the hope they will be able to return for the final third of the campaign.
Carew has been sidelined for two months, which has meant Gabriel Agbonlahor often being used as the sole striker.
Bouma dislocated an ankle in an Intertoto Cup game against Odense in July.