Cardiff duo Darren Purse and Roger Johnson are rated extremely doubtful for the home clash with promotion-chasing Charlton.
Johnson scored a stoppage-time equaliser to rescue a point at Hull on Saturday but is suffering with a rib injury.
Purse picked up a hamstring strain and could miss out, but fellow defender Glenn Loovens returns to the squad after serving a one-match ban.
Experienced pair Riccardo Scimeca and Robbie Fowler are still a week away from fitness with their respective groin and hip injuries.
Fowler's absence has opened the door for former Rangers striker Steven Thompson to establish himself in the Bluebirds attack and, after his goal against the Tigers at the weekend, Bluebirds boss Dave Jones has challenged him to continue his goalscoring form.
The manager said: "Thommo has come back, bided his time and I thought he and Steven MacLean did really well at the weekend but chances have got to be put away to alleviate the pressure on the team."
Chris Powell is set to start his 250th game for Charlton on Tuesday.
The 38-year-old left-back returned to the side following an ankle injury in Saturday's 3-1 defeat by Burnley.
He replaced teenage defender Grant Basey, who suffered a groin injury against Sheffield United last week and is still missing.
Jerome Thomas sat out the Burnley defeat with a knock and could be absent again, while Svetoslav Todorov (cruciate), Cory Gibbs (foot) and Ben Thatcher (knee) are long-term casualties.
Boss Alan Pardew will be pondering changes after successive defeats, with Jose Semedo and Lloyd Sam pushing for recalls in midfield.
Striker Luke Varney may be sacrificed if Pardew opts to play Chris Iwelumo as a lone frontman at Ninian Park.