Peterborough United boss Darren Ferguson joked that he may have to come out of retirement for Saturday's Coca-Cola League One fixture at Walsall (3pm) as his squad has been decimated by injuries and international call-ups.

No fewer than eight players are unavailable for the clash while the Posh boss is sweating on the fitness on two others. Posh are trying to make it three league wins in a row after successes against Milton Keynes Dons and Leeds United.

TEAM NEWS

Posh are without Craig Morgan and Gabriel Zakuani due to international call-ups, but Joe Lewis will be available. Football League regulations state that to call a fixture off because of international call-ups you need three of your own players to be selected by their countries. Gabi Zakuani is currently on-loan so he doesn't count as a Posh player.

Jamie Day (back), Shane Blackett (shoulder), Aaron Mclean (elbow), Dean Keates (knee), Chris Westwood (calf) and Sergio Torres (knee) are all expected to miss the match while Tom Williams missed training on Thursday due to a knock to his knee.

Shaun Batt was back in training on Friday after nursing a sore shoulder following an aerial challenge against Dagenham and Redbridge on Tuesday evening. Meanwhile, Walsall will again be without big goal-keeper Clayton Ince who is away on World Cup duty with Trinidad and Tobago, but 21-year-old Rene Gilmartin, who deputised in Tuesday's Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie at Cheltenham, is relishing the rare chance to show what he can do.

Back in contention are full-backs Rhys Weston and Netan Sansara who have now completed three-match suspensions. Striker Geoff Horsfield and midfielder Kevin O'Connor, now on trial at Bescot, are unlikely to figure tomorrow.

MANAGER QUOTES

'I will leave it late before finalising the starting XI because I have no idea at this stage who will be fit. We know it will be a difficult game because Walsall are excellent at home and they have some decent strikers who are powerful and superb in the air. I have confidence in whatever team I put out to do the job and we will be looking for the three points,' Ferguson said.

'The spirit in the camp is excellent and we go into Saturday's game in a positive frame of mind. We are under no illusions that it is going to be a tough assignment for us against a side who have made a smooth transition into League One following their promotion last term.

'Darren Ferguson is an up-and-coming young manager who has some exciting attacking options at his disposal. His side likes to play good football, so it has all the ingredients to be an entertaining encounter, which we face with real relish,' Walsall boss Jimmy Mullen said.

ONE TO WATCH

Walsall striker Michael Ricketts (pictured) is a one-time England front man and played at the top level with Bolton Wanderers. He has tremendous power, is still quick and is the focal point of the Saddlers attack. Charlie Lee and Kieran Charnock are set to have a very tough afternoon.