Glentoran striker Gary Hamilton has been put on standby for Northern Ireland's Euro 2008 qualifier against Sweden in Stockholm next Wednesday.
The Irish League striker will be called into boss Nigel Worthington's squad if hamstring injury victim Keith Gillespie fails to prove his fitness by Friday.
Jonny Evans also faces a test on an ankle injury at the end of this week with Sean Webb waiting in the wings.
Stephen Robinson returns to the squad but winger Stuart Elliott is left out.
Aaron Hughes and Tony Capaldi return to the panel after overcoming injuries but Chris Baird and Warren Feeney both miss out through suspension and Damien Johnson and Michael Duff are injury victims.
Hamilton won five caps between 2003 and 2004 but has been in the international wilderness since.
David Healy, Kyle Lafferty and Ivan Sproule are the only three recognised forwards in the 19-man panel while goalkeeper Roy Carroll continues his self-imposed exile to concentrate on his club career at Rangers.
Luton Town midfielder Robinson made his debut a decade ago and won the last of his six caps in 2005 against Azerbaijan.
The 32-year-old's impressive recent form for the Hatters has earned him a surprise recall for the game in Stockholm.
Gillespie has been encouraged by his recovery but, according to Worthington, remains "touch and go".
The Sheffield United winger will make a decision on his availability after consulting with his club.
Gillespie missed the weekend defeat against Bristol City but did some running on Monday and said there has been a big improvement since sustaining the injury last week.
Birmingham City midfielder Johnson is also likely to miss the last two qualifiers against Denmark and Spain after suffering a new hamstring injury.
Burnley defender Duff is definitely sidelined for the rest of the campaign because of a serious knee injury.
Northern Ireland take on Denmark at Windsor Park on 17 November and end the campaign in Spain four days later.
Nigel Worthington's team lie third in Group F, three points behind Sweden and Spain.
Northern Ireland squad: Taylor (Birmingham), Mannus (Linfield), McGovern (Celtic), Craigan (Mottherwell), Capaldi (Cardiff City), McCartney (West Ham), Hughes (Fulham), Evans (Man Utd), McAuley (Leicester City), Gillespie (Sheffield United), Davis (Fulham), Clingan (Nottingham Forest), Brunt (West Brom), McCann (Barnsley), Robinson (Luton Town), Jones (Burnley), Healy (Fulham), Lafferty (Burnley), Sproule (Bristol City).
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