Well, if they had a whole village in the events before OoT, then I don't see why they wouldn't be more populous in a game preceding it.
However, whether or not they will actually appear in the game... Personally, I don't see it happening, unless they take up a similar role as in OoT. They were known as the "shadow people" because they hid in the shadows, and unless Link was to meet with members of the Royal Family, then all the appearances we may see is a cameo in a town or something.