Crawley Town interim manager Dean Saunders has agreed a deal to bring veteran centre-back Darren Ward on loan from Swindon Town for the rest of the season.
The 36-year-old, who has been out of favour at the Robins in the last few months, is expected to go straight into the Red Devils team for Saturday's home game against MK Dons.
Saunders told The West Sussex Gazette: "We went into the game last week [against Colchester United] with one defender so I felt I had to do something really quickly before the next game and I've done that.
"Darren is a really experienced player and will be like a coach on the pitch which I felt we needed as we are a young outfit.
"He's a fitness fanatic. He wants to win. He wants to play 700 games and I'm sure he'll be a good acquisition for us."
Ward previously played for Millwall, Queens Park Rangers, Crystal Palace and Watford.