SAM Allardyce has warned Wanderers stars to expect the workload to increase as the season reaches fever pitch.

After the calm of the current international break, comes the storm of five games in just 13 days.

Squad rotation will be a key tactic as the Whites mount their assault on three separate fronts, beginning with Monday night's live televised Premiership clash at Birmingham City.

Whether you look at the short term (five games in 13 days), the medium term (eight games in 27 days) or the longer term (12 games in 43 days), Wanderers face a challenge period ahead.

And Allardyce is concerned about the threat the hectic programme could have on his side's hopes of success this season.

He said: "We get back into league football again at Birmingham on Monday.

"Then we fly out to Portugal on Wednesday (to face Vitoria Guimaraes on Thursday).

"We fly straight back to London to play Fulham on the Sunday, then we play Leicester in the Carling Cup on the Wednesday, and then we have Arsenal at home on the Saturday.

"We're doing very well at the moment, but we could easily slip up with the game load and the game demand at any particular time."