Melbourne City coach Aurelio Vidmar has urged his players to embrace a hectic nine-day period that includes three games and trips to New Zealand and Japan.
City face Wellington at Sky Stadium on Saturday, then head to Japan to play Ventforet Kofu in the Asian Champions League on Wednesday, before facing Newcastle away next Sunday.
The last time City had such an arduous week of travel it ended with a humiliating A-League Men loss to Adelaide United and Rado Vidosic getting the sack.
"It is a challenge and one we have to embrace," Vidmar said.
"We've put ourselves in this position and I wouldn't want it any other way and the players don't want it any other way. So we'll manage game by game, to be honest.
"All indications are the national team boys are in decent condition and fine.
"The biggest thing with recovery is sleep. And unfortunately we don't get too much because after the game on two of the trips, we're leaving like 4am or 5am from the hotel. So we're just gonna have to manage that as best as we can.
"Hence we had a really decent training block last week on the pitch and off the pitch so that should put us in good stead for these upcoming three weeks."
Jamie Maclaren and Aziz Behich travelled directly to Wellington from Socceroos duties in Kuwait, while Callum Talbot was with the Olyroos in Saudi Arabia.
Nuno Reis (quad) is sidelined short term but Tolgay Arslan could return.
Vidmar said he wouldn't look beyond the Wellington game where he plans to field his strongest possible line-up against an impressive Phoenix outfit.
The hosts will be without star striker Oskar Zawada (groin) for the next two-to-three games.
"There's no tear, but it's just a matter of how quickly we can get that flare up to relax," Nix coach Giancarlo Italiano said.
"Traditionally, an injury like that would take two or three weeks for the flare-up to relax, and then he will be able to get back on his feet.
"Sometimes you can come back earlier, and sometimes it can be later, but it's just about management now."
Vidmar called for his charges to be more ruthless in attack after letting chances go begging against Macarthur FC in particular.
"We've got to play a little bit more aggressively," he said.
"We got to be a lot more positive, especially in our front third.
"We've just got to be a little bit more ruthless and clinical when we're finishing."
