The on-loan Derby centre-back missed Saturday's 3-1 win at Swansea with a thigh injury and looks set to be out for a fortnight.
With Matt Lawrence (hamstring) and Paddy McCarthy (shoulder) also injured, left-back Clint Hill moved to centre-half at the Liberty Stadium.
Hill should remain in the middle at Oakwell with youngster Lee Hills filling in on the left once more.
McCarthy, who underwent a shoulder operation earlier this year, has been pencilled in for a return to action against QPR on April 4.
Teenage forward Victor Moses made a goalscoring return from a hamstring injury in Wales and should keep his place.
Barnsley are boosted by the returns of captain Stephen Foster and midfielder Anderson De Silva.
Foster has been out for the last two games due to suspension and Brazilian De Silva has missed three games while on compassionate leave following the sudden death of his mother.
But manager Simon Davey will still be without on-loan Fulham midfielder Andranik Teymourian, who will serve the final game of a three-match suspension following his straight red card at Cardiff.
Davey must decided whether to retain Michael Mifsud and Daniel Bogdanovic up front or recall Jon Macken against his former club.
The Tykes slipped into the bottom three following Saturday's home defeat to Blackpool and have won one of their last five league matches.
Sporting Life