Mo Harkin will miss the rest of Crawley's title run-in after X-rays showed he fractured a leg during Tuesday night's 6-1 win against Hednesford.
The former Northern Ireland under-21 international has been playing with a hairline fracture of the fibula in his left leg since January but is now expected to be on the sidelines for at least two months.
Manager Francis Vines said: "It was always a risk playing Mo in his condition as it only needed someone to give him a whack to make it worse but ironically it happened when he kicked his own foot.
"It is a big blow because he has been playing really well this season although we have only been able to use him once a week for the last two months as a precaution."
Harkin will be replaced by Robert Traynor on the left of midfield against Newport County tomorrow as the Reds go for their eighth successive win to strengthen their position at the top of the Dr Martens premier division.
However, Vines may be forced back into the transfer market if Traynor is recalled from his loan by Brentford, who have just parted company with manager Wally Downes.
Vines said: "At the moment we are assuming Robert is staying but we will be ready to act if the situation changes."
Eastbourne Borough entertain Tiverton at Priory Lane with manager Garry Wilson demanding an immediate response to their 7-1 drubbing by Albion Reserves in the Sussex Senior Cup semi-final.
Wilson said: "We have eight games left and we need a big response from the players, not just for tomorrow, but for the end of the season.
"The players know they let me, the fans and, more importantly, themselves down and they need to lift themselves."
Stuart Myall (knee) is struggling but Ollie Rowland returns.
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