Hearts manager Gary Locke will again name just five substitutes when he selects his side for their Premiership clash with Kilmarnock at Tynecastle on Thursday.
The youthful Jambos squad is stretched “paper thin” through injuries to Gary Oliver (ankle), Ryan Stevenson (hamstring), Mark Ridgers (knee), Jason Holt (foot) and Scott Robinson (groin) which meant there were two spaces in the dugout during the 2-0 defeat by Celtic at Parkhead on Saturday.
The former Hearts skipper, though, is determined not to fast-track any more young players just for the sake of it.
He said: “The young players have to merit a place on the bench. Nothing against the lads but they are simply not ready yet.
“I have to protect the young players at this club and it would be wrong of me to put them on the bench for the first team at this minute because they are simply not ready.
“Danny Wilson won’t train because of his shin splints but we haven’t got any injuries from the weekend which is positive news, obviously.”
Locke and his Hibernian counterpart Terry Butcher spoke of their shock and sorrow as both Edinburgh clubs come to terms with the deaths on Sunday of two young players.
Hibees youth player David Paul, 18, died at his home in the early hours before 13-year-old Jamie Skinner, who had left the Jambos academy a couple of weeks ago, died after collapsing on the pitch playing for Tynecastle Boys’ club under-14 side.
Locke said: “My thoughts go out to both players’ families because it must be absolutely horrific for them.”