JOHN Sheridan is expecting Oldham Athletic will have to "work with what we've got" despite injuries and suspensions impacting an already small squad.

Latics are without influential captain Carl Piergianni as they begin a run of four straight home games with tomorrow's visit of promotion chasing Exeter City.

The defender, an almost ever-present this season, starts a two-match ban for accumulated bookings, and while Jordan Clarke is available after his one-match suspension, injuries mean Sheridan's options continue to be restricted with the club still under a transfer embargo and 23-man squad limit.

Latics were looking into the possibility of being able to replace long-term casualty Mike Fondop, who only signed on January transfer deadline day but has had to have surgery on a groin injury.

But even though clubs have until March 24 - the fourth Thursday in March - to be able to sign free agents, Sheridan says it is unlikely that Latics will be recruiting before the cut-off.

"Players, whoever's available now, are nowhere near fit," said the Latics head coach.

"It's getting very late towards the end of the season.

"We've got to try to work with what we've got and get on with it."

But Sheridan, who was able to sign Tope Obadeyi after transfer deadline day because Ouss Cisse was de-registered as a result of a long-term hamstring injury, did not dismiss the idea altogether.

"It's not ruled out, if a player still pops up, but sometimes circumstances are more difficult than they seem. But if there's an opportunity to get someone we will," he said.

In the meantime, Sheridan is giving all of his attention to the players he has at his disposal for a run of home games that he feels could define their season.

"It could do," he said.

"It will be tough with the personnel and players who are fit and suspensions we've got, it's going to be tough but you've got to have a bit of fight in you. I've done it before. It will all be down to the players at the end of the day and me trying to pick the right team.

"No disrespect to the players who aren't there and aren't available, I've got to concentrate on the ones who are and are hopefully going to try to get us the result and get on the pitch and perform.

"It doesn't help the situation but we've just got to get on with it.

"I've just got to try to get the belief into the players more than anything and hopefully whoever is fit and available will go out and perform.

"If we perform we're capable of beating any team in the league, that's what we've got to go out and set our sights on winning games, no matter who we're playing. Don't look at the table, it's just 11 v 11 and we're always going to have the support, home games they're going to get right behind us and hopefully we can give them something to shout about."

Sheridan added: "It will be the togetherness that will hopefully keep us in the league, it won't be that we're going to outplay teams, it will be the togetherness and the desire to want to stay in this division and that's what we've got.

"We've got four games at home against teams who are fighting at the other end to get out of the league so it's a good test for us."