Slovenia striker Andraz Sporar admits it's a blow for them to be without Manchester United star Benjamin Sesko for their opening Nations League showdown with Scotland.
And they will also be without Nik Prelec, who scored at Ibrox this season for Jagiellonia Bialystok in a 1-1 draw against Rangers in the Europa League.
New boss Sebastien Pocognoli will take charge of Scotland for the first time this weekend in a clash in Ljubljana.
But Slovenia will once again be without their star man after United withdrew £73 million hitman Sesek following another injury.
They will also be without two further players who have pulled out through injury - Viborg defender Zan Zaletel and striker Prelec, who helped stun Rangers with the Polish side.
And 32-year-old former Sporting Lisbon, Middlesbrough and Panathinaiko striker Sporar, who now plays for Slovan Bratislava, is hoping other players in their squad can step up.
He said: "We will have to do without Benjamin and of course he would have been very useful to us, we cannot deny this.
"But football is a team sport and Slovenia has never depended on just one footballer.
"Slovenia's greatest quality has always been the team.
"We believe we can win the group if we just concentrate on each match ahead of us, starting with Scotland.
"Scotland and also North Macedonia will not be easy and of course Switzerland always qualify for the World Cup and the European Championship.
"We will do our best to try to win as many points as possible and to finish in first or at worst, second place."
