Wanderers aim to end their enforced winter break with a rapid fire assault on two fronts.

A three-week absence of action has left the Whites itching to play and their manager concerned they may have forgotten the style of play that has brought them success this season.

They flew out to Portugal on Wednesday for Thursday's UEFA Cup group game at Guimaraes before heading back to London on Saturday - just 24 hours ahead of the Premiership clash at Fulham at Craven Cottage.

It is a case of the storm after the calm, and there will be little respite to follow with a Carling Cup tie coming up against Leicester City at the Reebok next Wednesday, followed by the visit of Arsenal in the Premiership three days later.

With the next two games being so close together, and so far apart in distance, there is likely to be two vastly different looking sides taking to the pitches in Portugal and London.

But at least Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce has plenty of players to choose from as, apart from long term injury victims Nicky Hunt and Ivan Campo, he has a fully fit and re-energised squad to pick from.

"For me, it is about thinking about two teams, one for Thursday and one for Sunday," he said.

"I've got to pick the best team to get a result in Portugal and then make sure we have a team of players capable of getting a result against Fulham.

"We know that one win will virtually guarantee that we qualify for the last 32 of the UEFA Cup but we have got to be looking to get at least one point in Portugal which might be enough.

"Then we'll be looking to get points at Fulham."

Allardyce has no worries about the strength of his resources, but he is concerned about what affect such a long break might have on their mentality.

Monday night's postponed Premiership game at Birmingham means Wanderers will have had to wait 17 days from beating Spurs last time out to playing Guimaraes.

Allardyce said: "We have had to wait a little too long.

"The break stopped our flow. The lads were biting at the bit to play at Birmingham and it was a devastating blow for us to have the game called off, because it was a great chance for us to continue our good form.

"The players knew if they got a win against a team who had not won at home this season they would go second, and that was a big push for them.

"It leaves us nice and fresh for tomorrow (Thursday) but my only worry is that it has been so long since our last game that the players might be forgetful about their roles in the side.

"For that reason we have to be switched on and tuned in to what we know we have to do to be successful."