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The Millwall boss is desperately short of central midfielders after a run of injuries robbed him of the likes of Alan Dunne and Dave Brammer while Marc Laird will be missing after being dismissed by Andy D'Urso during the 1-0 defeat at home to Leyton Orient last Saturday. And unless Jackett can bring in a player on an emergency loan deal before Thursday he'll be left with one of two options - either play someone else out of position or promote one of the youth team to the senior side.
Neither would be ideal at such a crucial stage of the season, with just seven points seperating his side from a relegations spot, and that comfort zone could be wiped out this weekend if Gillingham find some form of their own. But from adversity heroes can be born and if Jackett's hand is forced he's likely to play Croatian winger Ahmet Brkovic alongside Ali Fuseini.
Jackett does have one option left open to him - and that's Justin Cochrane, the former Wycombe Wanderers player who is currently enjoying a trial period at The Den. He scored in last week's reserve team outing but there's a question mark over his match fitness and the Millwall boss isn't in a position where he can hand out contracts to all and sundry.
"Justine Cochrane is here on trial," Jackett told the South London Press. "And I will assess his fitness. I need someone who is comfortable on the ball, and who can play the holding role and attack but there are several possibilities."
Whatever option Jackett chooses it needs to be the right one, otherwise The Lions could find themselves back in a relegation dogfight before the month is out.