GLASGOW City captain Leanne Ross is expected to miss the rest of the season after it was confirmed she broke a bone in her right foot in the Uefa Women's Champions League win over Glentoran on Monday.

The Scottish champions need to beat FC Zhilstroy at Airdrie's Excelsior Stadium this afternoon if they are to qualify automatically for the last 32.

But they'll have to do so without two of their most influential players.

Attacking midfielder Suzanne Lappin injured her shoulder in City's opening Group 4 match against Nove Zamky and is likely to be out for four weeks. Now the loss of skipper Ross is another hammer blow to the team.

"Leanne's injury has now been confirmed as a break," City head coach Eddie Wolecki Black said. "As for Sue, her shoulder popped out and back in again, but the tendon has been stretched."

Ross will also miss Scotland's crucial World Cup qualifier against Sweden next month but Lappin may be fit in time.

A draw today would be enough to see Ukrainian champs Zhilstroy reach the knock-out stages because they have a better goal difference than City.

Nevertheless, Wolecki Black remains confident his side will be competing in the last 32 for a fourth successive season.

Glasgow's coach took a calculated gamble when he made eight changes for the Glentoran game.

It means his first-choice players should be better rested and more energetic than today's opponents.

Zhilstroy used ten of the same players for their two matches on Saturday and Monday.

"Obviously we're going to be fresher," Wolecki Black said. "It's virtually impossible to maintain a high level of performance when you're playing three games in six days.

"We're at home and the players are well rested.

"I know that Zhilstroy are the toughest side we are going to face but if we have any aspirations to qualify in Europe then we should be beating them."

City's qualifying task was made more difficult by the narrow margin of Monday's 1-0 victory but their young side pounded Glentoran and should have won by five or six.

And the performance augurs well for the future, with 15-year-old Carla Boyce in particular looking to be a great prospect.

However, City now need to find more sharpness in front of goal against Zhilstroy as four of their six goals in the first two games came from their central defenders. And they've now lost their two leading goalscorers in European competition.

"Given the two big hits we've taken in the last few days, the forward line is an area we will have to take a look at. We need to get more experience in," Wolecki Black said.

City signed Wales captain Jess Fishlock for the knockout stages last season but that option won't be repeated as the Seattle Reign midfielder is joining FFC Frankfurt at the end of this month.

"It's a fantastic move for her," Wolecki Black said. "There is no doubt she is a wonderful player who has shown she's more than capable of playing at that level.

"Jess made everybody here that wee bit more professional because of her high standards."