Motherwell assistant manager Archie Knox may want to "batter" the Fir Park players in training but boss Craig Brown admits he has been picking his team with their long season in mind.
Striker Jamie Murphy was rested for Tuesday's goalless draw with Falkirk after netting in Motherwell's previous three games, while top scorer Lukas Jutkiewicz remained on the bench despite recovering from a knee problem. Well's competitive season began on July 2 with a six-match European run and Brown has been wary of overworking his players.
"We had a different shape against St Mirren but it was really designed to preserve the legs of some of the lads," the 69-year-old said.
"We kept Jutkiewicz out to give him extra recovery time and we rested Keith Lasley, who has been excellent for us, and Murphy.
"It didn't help our performance, I've got to admit, so we've got the resources available for Saturday and hopefully we'll play better."
Brown, who took over at the end of December, added: "Motherwell have played more games than any other team and therefore we can't be overburdening the main players. We had to leave some of the players out of the side.
"We've been very careful with them in training. My colleague Archie wants to, as he says, batter them in training and get them super-fit. We'll do that next season.
"We have to pace training accordingly and there is the danger of the small squad we have got getting leg-weary.
"But I think we're experienced enough to know how much work to give them to ensure they are suitably refreshed for each match."
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