SAM Allardyce predicted that Sunday's Reebok TV showdown with Liverpool was the first major test of Wanderers' squad strength.

Rafael Benitez has had an extra day to prepare the Reds after progressing to the group stages of the European Champions League on Tuesday -- despite losing 1-0 at home to Graz AK -- and the Bolton boss says that could be decisive.

"Liverpool have got a day on us," he said. "They've also got a bigger squad and, watching the game the other night, they threw a lot of reserves and squad players into the game, which leaves us at a disadvantage coming up to Sunday."

It was encouraging that Wanderers went into the game boosted by Wednesday night's victory at Southampton while Liverpool resume their Premiership programme on the back of a defeat. But Allardyce, who is a great believer in the importance of rest and recovery time between games, always knew the midweek game at Southampton was a potential handicap.

"We got back at 3.30 am yesterday," he said, "and the job now is to get the lads rested up to give maximum effort against Liverpool while they can bring players in fresh, who haven't had a game in midweek.

"It's going to be a hard clash for us -- then we've got to deal with the two international games before we get back to play Manchester United."

The irony of the situation is not lost on Allardyce, who has turned similar situations to Wanderers advantage in the past -- notably when he has plotted impressive results against the likes of United and Arsenal when they have been distracted by commitments in Europe.

"I always look for fixtures that work in my favour but, at the moment, the two big boys are coming up and they are working against me," he added.

"We'll just hope we've got the squad and the determination to get through it, pick some points up and carry on the good work of getting two wins out of three."