Sam Allardyce has called for his players to show their mental strength when they take on Middlesbrough at the Riverside tonight.
West Ham moved to within two points of Championship leaders Southampton at the weekend but the busy schedule ensures the squad has to be managed properly.
The West Ham manager said: "There's some fatigue after Saturday but we're trying to recover the players as quickly as we can. If there is some physical fatigue then the lads have to be mentally stronger.
"Life here is all about recovery because there are so many games. Sometimes the lads don't realise the importance of recovery.
"It can be boring - taking in fluids, eating five times a day, stretching off, ice baths, the right amount of sleep. It's not all about training, it's what you do when you leave the training ground."
Allardyce is likely to make several changes from the team which beat Derby 3-1 with Papa Bouba Diop, Matt Taylor and Guy Demel all in contention. Sam Baldock is out until Christmas with a hamstring injury.
