The regular non-league handicaps have affected both Kendal Town and Workington during pre-season as they prepare for their game at Parkside.
Holidays, weddings and niggling injuries are always around when non-league sides are going through the build-up to a new season – and this year has been no exception.
For Workington, Sam Smith and Steve Rigg are close to a return to training; Ceiran Casson has seen a specialist about an Achilles concern while new signing Greg McCarragher could be back in action in a fortnight after having the medical boot removed from his damaged foot.
To add to those, Dan Wordsworth has just been married and a couple of the squad are on holiday.
But a trialist, who played the second-half at Penrith on Tuesday and is a former team-mate of manager Danny Grainger, will be in the line-up again.
Grainger wants a couple more new faces in before the season starts on August 13 at home to Mossley.
What has pleased the returning Reds boss has been the pleasing form shown by three of his relatively untried youngsters – Aiden Howarth, Jack Burns and Keelan Leslie.
Kendal are getting closer to what Jimmy Marshall expects to be his side for the opening game at Vauxhall Motors next Saturday.
The new manager has been looking at as many players as possible during pre-season and is pleased with the progress shown by the squad.
Steve Yawson has been one of the brightest new arrivals and he missed Tuesday’s win over a Fleetwood side because of work commitments. Marshall is hoping he will be available this afternoon.
Liam Jessop, a Gibralter international at Under-17s and Under-21s level, does not get back to the country until Monday but Tom Kilifin, who came on as a sub and scored against Fleetwood, will be ready to start.
