THE magic of the FA Cup is a foreign concept as far as Wanderers are concerned at the moment.

The daunting prospect of an exhausting 18 games in the next two months means the world's oldest club competition will have to take bottom priority this season.

It may be good for the Reebok kids who will get another chance to shine on Tuesday night but the backbone of the first team can forget about this cup unless Wanderers miraculously find themselves in danger of winning it.

Sam Allardyce made no bones about where his priorities lie this season when he put the Carling Cup over and above its FA counterpart - and both well behind the Premiership.

"In terms or priorities the Premiership comes first," he said.

"The Carling Cup semi-final becomes a bigger prize than the FA Cup which is third on the agenda.

"That was the situation before and it hasn't changed."

Allardyce is reeling from injuries to Ricardo Gardner and Simon Charlton which, added to long term absentee Florent Laville, have stretched his defensive resources to the limit.

With Jay-Jay Okocha set to leave for the African Nations Cup - "when he is ready", according to his manager - and Kevin Nolan, Stelios Giannakopoulos and Per Frandsen close to suspension, the last thing Allardyce needs is more problems thrown his way from a competition he regards as third in importance.

He is also acutely aware of the need to give his major players as much rest as possible in the middle of a tiring programme which is going to become even more hectic.

"We have got nearly half a season coming up in the next two months," he warned.

"We have 18 games in two months which is difficult for top line athletes.

"The aftermath of that is burnout and fatigue, both physically and mentally, which leaves players unable to raise a gallop after that.

"We are going from one very difficult period into another with league, FA Cup and Carling Cup matches all rolled into one.

"The situation will be that we will play one game, have a quick rest and move straight on to the next game.

"There will not be much time to celebrate wins or assess reasons behind defeats because you have always to move on to the next game."