Tuesday’s practice was the last Auburn football coach Hugh Freeze would lead as a 53-year-old.

On Wednesday, Freeze turns 54.

And what a birthday week he has as his Auburn Tigers are set to host the No. 1 team in the country Saturday when the two-time defending national champion Georgia Bulldogs visit Jordan-Hare Stadium for this year’s rendition of “The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry”.

“I’m excited to be back home to play one of the gold standards in college football right now, with what Coach (Kirby) Smart has done there in his eighth season,” Freeze said Monday. “He’s got it rolling, so it’ll be a great test for us. Thank God we’re in Jordan-Hare.”

With the test ahead, Freeze knows he’ll need his roster to be about as full strength as possible.

Unfortunately, guys like linebacker Austin Keys (thumb), defensive back Keionte Scott (ankle) and running back Damari Alston (shoulder) are all likely to be out against Georgia on Saturday.

While Keys and Scott did rehab work under the roof of Auburn’s indoor practice facility Tuesday, Alston was never seen at practice.

Freeze said Monday that Alston suffered a dislocated shoulder against Texas A&M and was needing further testing to get an idea of the severity of the injury and if he’d need surgery.

Meanwhile, Freeze said Monday that safeties Zion Puckett and Donovan Kaufman were both “day-to-day” after Puckett exited the game in College Station with a shoulder injury and Kaufman was hindered by an ankle injury.

In a hopeful sign for Auburn’s thin defensive backfield, both Puckett and Kaufman appeared to be full participants in the open window of practice.

Though still participating, senior linebacker Larry Nixon III was dressed in a yellow, non-contact jersey Tuesday for unknown reasons.