Lee Nicholls will not be available for selection for the Cobblers in their FA Cup tie at Bradford City on Tuesday night (7.45pm kick-off).
The goalkeeper has not been given permission to play by parent club Wigan Athletic, who also refused to allow Nicholls to feature in the Capital One Cup and Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.
Shane Higgs is expected to take his place in the starting 11 with Dean Snedker on the bench.
Also missing is Jake Robinson, who is Cup-tied after playing a qualifying round for Luton Town while on loan at the Hatters.
Ben Harding will travel to Valley Parade but it is understood a playing return will be delayed - providing the circumstances allow - until the league game against Wycombe Wanderers at Sixfields on Saturday.
It has also been confirmed that John Johnson will undergo a scan for a suspected recurrence of the knee ligament injury that required surgery earlier this season.
Johnson was hurt in the 1-1 draw at York City a week ago and his place in the starting line-up will be taken by Danny East.
Lewis Hornby is likely to start in central midfield, and - along with Snedker - could play two games in two days with the youth team taking on their York counterparts in the second round of the FA Youth Cup at Sixfields on Wednesday night.
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