MIDFIELD duo Chris Clark and Craig Noone have been ruled out of Argyle's away game against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road tonight.

Clark hobbled out of the 1-1 draw against Preston North End at Home Park on Saturday with thigh and hamstring injuries.

Noone was outstanding in that game, after coming on as a half-time substitute and playing on the left wing.

But he suffered ankle and shin injuries in a crunching tackle from Preston right-back Billy Jones near the end of the match.

Argyle head coach Paul Mariner is optimistic Clark and Noone will be fit for the trip to Coventry City on Saturday.

But, with a busy schedule of matches in March, he has opted not to take any chances on their fitness tonight.

Reda Johnson is still sidelined by a groin injury, so either skipper Carl Fletcher or former Rangers defender Chris Barker will partner Kari Arnason at centre-back.

Fletcher played there against Preston, but Mariner could move Barker from left-back and replace him with Gary Sawyer.

That would then allow Fletcher, arguably Argyle's most consistent player this season, to play in his usual midfield role.

On-loan Blackburn Rovers midfielder Alan Judge was absent from Argyle's squad on Saturday because of a tight hamstring.

But he will return to the squad tonight, and could even start with Clark and Noone both out of action.

Defender David McNamee and second-year apprentice Sean Kinsella have also been called upon by Mariner.

Kinsella attended a training camp with the Republic of Ireland under-19s last week.

The 18-year-old has yet to feature in a match-day squad for Argyle, but he has been training with the senior squad regularly.

Defender Ryan Leonard, another second-year apprentice, could have been in contention for a spot on the substitutes' bench had it not been for a foot injury.

Leonard, 17, was hurt in a challenge with Pilgrims' up-and-coming striker Joe Mason in training.

Noone was injured when he was sent cartwheeling by Jones, who was fortunate not to be sent-off by referee Andy Woolmer.

Jones was only shown a yellow card, after being given the run around by Noone in the second half.

Mariner said: "It was a bit of a rash tackle, to say the least.

"I thought Nooney had seen it coming and had managed to get off his feet. I assumed he (Jones) had missed him, but he obviously didn't."

Clark has been a regular member of the first team, mainly on the left-side of midfield, since Mariner took over as Pilgrims' boss in December.

Mariner said: "I think Clarky and Noone will both be available for Saturday.

"Clarky has had an ongoing situation which he has been taking care of, and it restricted his movement on Saturday. It's his thigh and hamstring.

"Could they both play tonight? Probably. But with the games coming up, I think it would be a bit foolish."

Clark and Noone were receiving further treatment from physio Claire Taylor at Home Park today, with the aim of having them fit for the visit to Coventry.

Taylor will then travel to west London to assist Paul Atkinson, Argyle's new head of physiotherapy, for the game against QPR.

Johnson was injured in the second half of the Pilgrims' 4-3 defeat away to Sheffield United on February 27.

Mariner said: "Paul Atkinson has organised a scan for him. It's just a precaution.

"We need it to be clear, in the player's mind and in our mind, that it's nothing serious.

"He jogged on Sunday, but when Paul asked him to up it a little bit he felt it. And that was just straight stuff, so he's quite a way away."

Judge played for the Republic of Ireland under-21s in a 2-1 defeat by Armenia in Dublin last Wednesday.

But the Blackburn loanee was not in the Pilgrims' squad against Preston three days later.

Mariner said: "It was just a precaution. He had a tight hamstring after playing a full 90 minutes on the Wednesday, coupled with the travel.

"He trained well yesterday and is in the squad tonight."