King's Lynn boss Keith Webb has a mounting defensive injury crisis ahead of tonight's Southern League Premier Division trip to Corby (7.45pm). Greg Crane has definitely been ruled out after aggravating an ankle problem in Lynn's opening day draw at Bashley.

King's Lynn boss Keith Webb has a mounting defensive injury crisis ahead of tonight's Southern League Premier Division trip to Corby (7.45pm).

Greg Crane has definitely been ruled out after aggravating an ankle problem in Lynn's opening day draw at Bashley.

Left-back Ben Chapman (calf) is a major doubt after missing the weekend trip, while Webb revealed centre-back Mark Warren and right-back Dean West also picked up niggles.

Webb has drafted in Daniel Buhlemann with the Linnets chief poised to recruit more of his youngsters for a daunting visit to the highly fancied Steelmen.

"It'll be a case of seeing who we have available and picking a team accordingly," he admitted. "I'd be very surprised if Ben is fit for Corby. He'll guide me, but what we don't want to do early on in the season is get him playing through it to make things worse. Wazza and Westy picked up niggles so we'll see how they've recovered.

"Going to Corby would be tough with our first choice side - we're under no illusions. For me, they are one of the favourites. Kevin Wilson has gone in, with a bit of money behind him, and he's assembled a new squad."

Webb planned to assess the fitness of Jack Defty at training last night after the front man failed to make the Bashley trip. The Linnets chief has ruled Crane out until mid-September.

"It's his ankle ligaments, so we're looking at three to four weeks," confirmed Webb. "He fell awkwardly on the same ankle he had a problem with in pre-season and twisted his foot in the ground. The initial scenario looked a lot worse but we'll just have to monitor it and get him on a recovery programme."

Crane's absence will hand former Portsmouth trainee Greg Lake an early chance to impress after signing on the eve of Lynn's Southern League kick-off.

"He's a young boy making his way in this league but he did all right at Bashley," said Webb.

"We have to be patient with him but he's been around the professional game and he still has aspirations at that level. Greg can only learn from playing alongside someone like Mark Warren with all his experience."

Webb still expects to build on a battling Bashley draw.

"I want us to keep up a good tempo and be a little bit more creative in that final third," he said. "I was reasonably happy with a point. The pitch and the weather didn't make it easy. It was disappointing to go in at half-time 1-0 down but we came back strong, caused them problems and got our goal. I think if the game had lasted another 10 minutes I would've fancied us to get a winner."

Webb praised Boston United target Matt O'Halloran after an impressive second half cameo.

"He did well when he came on," he said. "We've got a seven-day approach from Boston but I'm doing my level best to convince him to stay. It's his decision."

The Linnets boss is also working on a loan signing ahead of Saturday's trip to Yate.

King's Lynn (from): Howie, Murray, West, Warren, Buhlemann, Lake, C Defty, Fisk, Camm, Frew, O'Halloran, Melton, Ridgway, Turner, Bloomfield, Nolan, J Defty, Francis.