Tigers are without a host of key players (Getty Images)

Tigers are without Tom Croft, George Chuter, Ben Kay and Geordan Murphy who are on international duty for England's Six Nations game against Ireland.

And Lewis Moody, James Hamilton, Marco Wentzel and Aaron Mauger are all out with injuries.

"I don't want to say it's a crisis. We have to be very careful about the selection of the team," Loffreda said.

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"It's a very difficult time. I think this is a very difficult situation and we have to recover from that."

This is a reality that we all live in and we have to deal with it Marcelo Loffreda

But the former Argentina coach will not use the lack of options as an excuse following the Tigers surprise loss to Premiership strugglers Worcester last weekend.

"Sometimes it is so difficult with so many players injured that it is also difficult to make training," he said.

"These are not excuses this is a reality that we all live in and we have to deal with it."