Wales will be without star midfielder Aaron Ramsey for their opening European Championship qualifier against Slovakia in Cardiff on Sunday.
The 28-year-old sat out the 1-0 friendly victory over Trinidad & Tobago on Wednesday, with Dragons head coach Ryan Giggs having hoped the Arsenal ace would recover in time to feature at the Cardiff City Stadium this weekend.
We made sure we had a Plan B and we've worked on that during the week.
Ryan Giggs
However, Ramsey has now been ruled out and has returned to his club for treatment.
Giggs told reporters: "It's a blow, especially the form he's been in, but it gives a chance for somebody else.
"We made sure we had a Plan B and we've worked on that during the week. We're going to miss someone like Aaron, but we've prepared for it as well.
"It's important for us to get off to a good start, but it's not going to be easy. They're coming here with three points and we'll have to be up for it.
"We want to be competitive in every qualifying campaign, that's the level we need to be at consistently.
"It's difficult because we don't always have the same players available, but we want to get to a consistent level in terms of partnerships across the pitch."
Wales last faced Slovakia at the European Championship finals of 2016, with the Dragons winning the group game in Bordeaux 2-1 thanks to goals from Gareth Bale and Hal Robson-Kanu.
They can be backed at 11/10 to win the game on Sunday and are 8/1 to triumph by a 2-1 scoreline, with Real Madrid ace Bale - who is expected to feature after an injury of his own - 11/10 to score at any time.
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Wales will be without star midfielder Aaron Ramsey for their opening European Championship qualifier against Slovakia in Cardiff on Sunday.
The 28-year-old sat out the 1-0 friendly victory over Trinidad & Tobago on Wednesday, with Dragons head coach Ryan Giggs having hoped the Arsenal ace would recover in time to feature at the Cardiff City Stadium this weekend.
We made sure we had a Plan B and we've worked on that during the week.
Ryan Giggs
However, Ramsey has now been ruled out and has returned to his club for treatment.
Giggs told reporters: "It's a blow, especially the form he's been in, but it gives a chance for somebody else.
"We made sure we had a Plan B and we've worked on that during the week. We're going to miss someone like Aaron, but we've prepared for it as well.
"It's important for us to get off to a good start, but it's not going to be easy. They're coming here with three points and we'll have to be up for it.
"We want to be competitive in every qualifying campaign, that's the level we need to be at consistently.
"It's difficult because we don't always have the same players available, but we want to get to a consistent level in terms of partnerships across the pitch."
Wales last faced Slovakia at the European Championship finals of 2016, with the Dragons winning the group game in Bordeaux 2-1 thanks to goals from Gareth Bale and Hal Robson-Kanu.
They can be backed at 11/10 to win the game on Sunday and are 8/1 to triumph by a 2-1 scoreline, with Real Madrid ace Bale - who is expected to feature after an injury of his own - 11/10 to score at any time.
View all Soccer betting
Source: bet365.com