Dons manager Roberto Di Matteo will again be without several key members of his squad for Tuesday night's League 1 trip to promotion rivals Peterborough United.

Plymouth loanee Jason Puncheon serves the second of his three-match suspension following his sending off against Colchester last week and will not be available until the trip to Cheltenham on January 31.

Jude Stirling will be hoping to overcome the illness that ruled him out of Saturday's defeat at Carlisle but, having not trained all week, the defender must be considered a doubt to face his former club.

Having come through the game at Brunton Park without a problem, Peter Leven's groin problem looks to be behind him, but fellow midfielder Flavien Belson remains sidelined with a hip injury.

Long-termers Danny Swailes (Achilles) and Luke Chadwick (knee) are still some way short on fitness, with the latter expected to return in the next two-to-three weeks.

Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson suffered a scare on Monday when leading scorer Craig Mackail-Smith sat out training with a knock, but the former Dagenham striker is expected to recover.

Full-back Tom Williams might not be so lucky, with a knee injury making his a major doubt for the game, and Charlie Lee is expected to continue at left-back in his stead.

Shane Blackett (shoulder) and Jamie Day (back) are Peterborough's only long-term absentees.