Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale has admitted that midfielder Matt Oakley's loan spell with the Grecians is likely to end later this month.

The veteran Leicester City playmaker is two weeks away from full fitness after sustaining a thigh injury during the Grecians' 0-0 npower League One draw with Carlisle United early this month.

With Oakley's month-to-month loan deal with the Grecians up for review during that time, Tisdale conceded that it may prove too much of a risk to renew the deal without knowing when his former Southampton team-mate would be able to return to action.

The City manager said: "Matt is still injured. It will be another two or three weeks, but with a muscular injury there's always the potential that it won't be as strong as you would wish and, when you come back to test it, it could flare up again.

"The risk of taking a player on loan and paying their wages and then the player not being fit [is high]. It's a risk taking someone back who is injured, even if you think with a fair wind he could be fit within a week or two. It's certainly not guaranteed Matt will be back," the City boss admitted.

Oakley's long-term injury, coupled with those of Guillem Bauza (hamstring), Billy Jones (foot), has not helped Tisdale to prepare for today's League One home game against Tranmere Rovers. Daniel Nardiello, who has a calf problem, is another player who has not featured lately for Exeter.

David Noble is also a doubt for City. The midfielder failed a fitness test ahead of Wednesday's 3-2 FA Cup first-round replay defeat at Walsall, due to a dead leg. Winger Chris Hackett is set to make his Exeter debut, after arriving on loan from Millwall on Thursday, against the Birkenhead side.

Exeter will want to put a strong team out against Tranmere, who have made a decent start to the season, despite some wobbles lately, and have a good recent record against the Grecians.

Rovers ended City's League One play-off hopes last season with a 4-0 win at Prenton Park in April. Tisdale said: "They have started well, have had some relatively good results and are in a healthy position, so I'm well aware of that.

"The last three times we've played them, we haven't beaten them. We've lost twice there and drew last year at home, so they've proved very difficult opponents. We haven't been as good as we should have been against them of late, so we'll do our best to rectify that."

Tranmere have not lost to Exeter since City beat them 2-1 in a League One home game 26 months ago. Rovers, who are eighth in League One, have not won since October, though.

Rovers manager Les Parry told BBC Radio Merseyside: "I'd rather be playing them at home, to be honest, than in Exeter, even though we've been beaten in our last couple of home games.

"They're a decent side and they've just played in an FA Cup replay and were beaten in extra time. They won't be happy at the moment, and will be looking for a lift after that. They're a difficult team to beat," Parry added.

Leeds United goalkeeper Paul Rachubka is set to make his Tranmere debut. The 30-year-old has moved to Prenton Park on a one-month loan deal, after Rovers' regular number one Owain Fon Williams broke a hand in training.

Rovers will be without defender Zoumana Bakayogo (knee injury), striker Enoch Showunmi (ankle) and midfield man Robbie Weir, who is suspended.

Exeter City (from): Krysiak, Pidgeley; Tully, Dunne, Coles, Archibald-Henville, Duffy, Sercombe, Noble, Golbourne, Hackett, Shephard, O'Flynn, Taylor, Logan, Keohane, Frear, Bennett, Furzer, Nichols, McNish, Viney.

Doubtful: Nardiello (calf), Noble (leg).

Unavailable: Oakley (calf), Jones (foot), Bauza (groin).