Kevin Foley steps in for Ronald Zubar

Wolves are set to start the season with Kevin Foley at right-back with Ronald Zubar almost certainly out of the Premier League curtain-raiser against Stoke.

The French defender remains under treatment on the groin injury that has kept him out of the last two friendlies against Hearts and Athletic Bilbao.

After missing several days of training with a groin injury suffered in the opening friendly against Bohemians, manager Mick McCarthy admitted time is running out for the former Marseille man.

Zubar made the right-back position his own after breaking into the team last October, but injuries have restricted him to barely two-and-a-half of the seven pre-season friendlies.

McCarthy said: "Zubar is having treatment. He hasn't played that many games so he's a doubt for Saturday."

The manager then dropped a large hint that 2008-09 Player of the Year Foley could be set for his first Premier League game at right-back since Octobe,r after playing there in the last Saturday's warm-up game against Athletic Bilbao.

He said: "Kevin Foley has a chance. He was our Player of the Season playing at right-back and he's just a competent, steady footballer.

"Wherever he's played, we've always had good performances. He does what it says on the tin every week."

Striker Kevin Doyle is also fit after a scan on his calf and is set to play some part in the Republic of Ireland's friendly against Argentina in the first game at the rebuilt Lansdowne Road tomorrow night.

McCarthy said: "Doyle hasn't trained. It's just a kick, a sore calf. He's had a bleed in it but it's not torn or strained.

"He should be OK to play some part tomorrow, which won't do him any harm. He wants to play. He's an international, it's their first game at the new stadium and I understand all that.

"If he's OK, and I'm sure he will be, and gets 45 minutes' semi-competitive football, hopefully he'll be alright for Saturday."

Stoke striker Ricardo Fuller has been cleared to play at Molineux despite being sent off at Wrexham on Friday.

Fuller was dismissed for violent conduct in the pre-season game at Wrexham on Friday.

But the Football Association have decided to follow a recent precedent they set when banning Patrick Vieira from friendlies rather than Premier League games after his sending off in Manchester City's game against Inter Milan in the United States.

Back at Molineux today, Sam Vokes was receiving treatment.

The striker is set for a scan after injuring his hamstring just 13 minutes into his Bristol City debut on loan, after coming on as a substitute in Saturday's 3-0 defeat to Millwall.