COLIN Todd is determined not to let international calls undermine Wanderers' promotion hopes.

The Reebok boss is resigned to being without Mark Fish at Watford next Saturday, when the South African defender will be on African Nations Cup duty in Gabon.

But he has appealed to the authorities in Johannesburg not to involve his key defender in a friendly against Denmark, 48 hours before the promotion six-pointer against Wolves on Friday, April 30.

Once again it's a question of club v country and Wanderers know they are at the mercy of national bosses, who are not obliged to co-operate.

But Todd believes he has always played fair with the South African Federation and, on this occasion, deserves a sympathetic hearing.

"Mark misses the Watford game," the manager confirmed today. "We've known about that for a while and we can do nothing about it. But I'm hoping to get a concession over the friendly on April 28.

"The timing would be all wrong. He'd be playing for his country on the Wednesday night and dashing back to play for us on the Friday night. That's no way to prepare for an important game."

The Copenhagen friendly had been arranged for last season but was postponed when South Africa and Denmark were drawn in the same group in the World Cup Finals.

Per Frandsen, who was left out of the last international squad, could be in the reckoning for a recall but sources in Denmark suggest that Wanderers would have no trouble winning his release if he was suddenly back in favour. Todd's only concern with Frandsen at the moment is that he has 10 bookings against his name - just one away from a suspension and a personal appearance before the FA.

Regardless of whether the South Africans play ball over the friendly, Fish still has a hectic schedule ahead of him next weekend that will disrupt his preparations for the home game against Bristol City on Tuesday, April 13.

After Monday's game at home to Stockport, he flies 6,000 miles to team up with his national squad in preparation for Saturday's Nations Cup game in Libreville. He then faces another long-haul flight to get back from Gabon, via Johannesburg, in time for the Reebok game.

International duty has already taken its toll on the Wanderers squad. Claus Jensen was sent home from U-21 duty with Denmark with a thigh strain, Jussi Jaaskelainen returned from Finland's European qualifier against Germany with an ankle injury picked up in training and Ricardo Gardner missed more than a week's training and only returned late on Thursday after playing in Jamaica's friendly against Paraguay.

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