WITH nine games to go, Dougie Freedman has warned that fatigue could yet be the biggest obstacle between Wanderers and the play-offs.

Even though the Whites appear to be finishing strongly to gatecrash the top six in May, there are still concerns within the ranks at Euxton further reinforcements will be required to see the team over the finishing line.

Freedman has altered his training schedules in the last couple of months to try to minimise the risk of player burn-out, but admits the battle ahead could be both a physical and a mental one.

“We prepare properly and plan properly to be hitting different periods of the season quite fresh,” he said. “It’s a difficult skill that I haven’t mastered yet. But I am working on it to make sure the players are nice and fresh.

“They have done a lot of tactical work through December and January which you can see the benefit of.

“The physical work hopefully came in pre-season and now it’s just about keeping us as fresh as possible and keep them motivated towards playing.”

Though points will be won on the pitch, Freedman accepts he has a major responsibility on the training ground in the next two months to ensure players remain at their peak.

“Everyone is going to be tired, it’s how you cope with it. I saw Peterborough and Leeds on Tuesday and it was end to end. People could not get back,” he said.

“It’s how you manage the training, how you freshen things up; that’s what it will come down to.

“Teams will be fighting for promotion or fighting against relegation. It’s going to be very tight.”