Manchester City pair Micah Richards and Gareth Barry will both miss the club's opening competitive game of the season in the Community Shield.
Barry has failed to recover in time from an abdominal injury that forced the midfielder to miss England's Euro 2012 campaign.
Richards suffered an ankle injury on Olympic duty with Great Britain last weekend and will be left out as a precaution.
City captain Vincent Kompany is expected to be fit despite missing a chunk of pre-season with a calf problem.
European Championship finalists David Silva and Mario Balotelli are both expected to start as substitutes as they build towards the new Premier League season.
City face FA Cup winners Chelsea in Sunday's traditional domestic curtain raiser at Villa Park.
