Fulham manager Roy Hodgson has admitted his Fulham side are paying the price of fighting on three fronts this season.
The Europa League win over Shakhtar Donetsk was the Cottagers' 41st game of a gruelling season which began way back in July.
And Hodgson admitted his depleted squad, who are also in the last eight of the FA Cup, were running on empty before hosting Birmingham tomorrow.
"Now it is just a question of recovery," said the Whites boss, who face the second leg in Ukraine on Thursday.
"The Shakhtar Donetsk win took a lot out of us. The result came at a price - the prize of fatigue, tired legs and minds. We have a lot of tired players.
"Our next two days are going to be very much a question of trying to get ourselves ready mentally and physically for the next challenge because Birmingham will be a different kind of team from the team we played in the Europa league but they will be as every bit as difficult to beat.
"This is a our third week running where we have played three games in a week and we have got another three weeks in front of us of doing the same. And we are doing all this with a very small group of players."
But keeper Mark Schwarzer, who produced a fingertip injury-time save to guarantee the 2-1 victory over the Brazilian-inspired Ukrainian side, has no complaints.
"If you don't enjoy it as a footballer then when are you going to enjoy your football?" asked the Aussie.
"This is what it's all about, playing games, and playing in Europe and playing in the FA Cup and playing in the Premier League. It's the best life to have and I'm enjoying it, at the young and tender age of 37."
Captain Danny Murphy has revealed he is continuing to play despite the "impending arrival" of his second child his wife Joanna Taylor. "It is due any day now," he admitted. "Hopefully it will be either before or after the match."