Rob Lyon insists a clean bill of health is imperative to getting King's Lynn Stars' season back on track.
The Norfolk Arena team boss has watched helplessly as on-off injuries to Simon Stead, Rory Schlein, David Howe, Seb Alden and captain Mads Korneliussen helped destroy his side's fine start to 2013.
Three successive defeats have put the skids on the second-placed Stars' play-off ambitions, albeit temporarily. Their last loss came at home to Poole on Wednesday when the returning Korneliussen hurt himself again and was forced to withdraw from the meeting, along with team-mate Alden. It left a five-man Lynn facing another uphill task which they couldn't overcome and Lyon admits the defeat was a result of one meeting too many for his stretched outfit.
'It is frustrating. It's difficult to win, or get points out of matches, with five riders really. We've not had a full team for a while with injuries and whatever else,' said Lyon.
'It is frustrating because we know that with a full side we can be a match for anybody, I'm confident of that. Wednesday was one match too far. I knew it was going to be tough anyway as (Tai) Woffinden coming in for Darcy (Ward) was a terrific replacement. He's on fire at the moment and he proved it again.
'I knew it would be nip and tuck. The Poole I saw at Peterborough a couple of weeks ago was a shadow of the team that I know they can be, and they proved that here. It would have been a tough meeting with a full team. I think we'd have won it if I'm honest, it would have been a close one, but injuries are something you can't control – especially during a meeting.'
The 50-39 reverse ended Lynn's 100pc home record this term and was their first loss in six Saddlebow Road meetings.
Korneliussen (head, knee and shoulder) and Alden (neck) – who went to a hospital as a precautionary measure after his accident against the Pirates but has since rode on the continent – should be fit for the return trip to Dorset on Monday, May 27.
And Lyon hopes that Simon Stead can make his return at Wimborne Road after missing the last three meetings. His latest absence came after breaking a small bone in his hand while competing in Europe.
The Stars' chief said: 'It's quite frustrating as they're niggling injuries. Luckily they're not long term, they're short-term problems, but they just keep coming and coming and coming.
'Hopefully with a little break we can re-group and go to Poole and get some points back on the board, hopefully turn Peterborough over, and get our season back on track because injuries have really taken their toll.'
Lynn's next home meeting, a derby clash against the Panthers, is on Wednesday, May 29.
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