Lincoln City face without two first-team regulars as they try to take a giant step towards preserving their League One status.

The loan pair, midfielder Lewis Fiorini and right-back Brooke Norton-Cuff, will miss Saturday’s trip to in-form town Shrewsbury after being called up for international action. Fiorini is in the Scotland U21 squad while Norton-Cuffy is with England U19.

Michael Appleton has midfield options in the form of Teddy Bishop, Max Sanders and Lasse Sorensen. At right-back or right-back, depending on which system Appleton uses, Regan Poole could move in, while Bishop is another option.

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Shrewsbury have also had two senior players called up for international duty – Tom Flanagan and Aaron Pierre – but matches can only be postponed if three or more players from one club are selected.

“That’s a problem,” admitted Appleton. “But they also have a couple. We’ve had a few issues this season that have been comparable or worse than that.

“We have a tough game against a team that I’m sure feel good about themselves because they’ve scored eight goals in two games. [against Morecambe and Rotherham United].”

The Imps are 42 points, nine above the relegation zone. 50 points is widely considered the safe mark, but with teams below the Imps continually dropping points, that seems to be much lower this season, and just one more win could be enough for Lincoln.

” We have an [points] target that we want to reach and reach as soon as possible. Right now we’re going to take it one game at a time, and we’re soon entering the last month of the season. April is going to be a ridiculously busy month.

The Imps are still looking to sign a goalkeeper on emergency loan. If we do not arrive before the weekend, Jordan Wright, who has impressed since his rise to the first team, will keep his place against Shrewsbury.