TONY Mowbray has revealed he will give his 11th-placed troops an easier ride this week as they prepare for two tough games in four days.

The Baggies boss is eager to keep his players fresh for Saturday's sell-out home clash with high-flying Hull on Saturday (ko 3pm) and Tuesday's long trip to Newcastle (ko 7.45pm).

One player who will be wrapped up in cotton wool in particular is rising star Gianni Zuiverloon, who missed training yesterday with a minor knee problem but is expected to be fit for the Tigers' visit.

"Gianni isn't in training and one or two others weren't risked yesterday," said Mowbray.

"We have two big games coming up in a short period of time so it'll be a pretty low intensity week for us.

"We will just get ready for the next couple of matches.

"Gianni won't be a doubt for the weekend."

Filipe Teixeira could play in the reserves' trip to Stoke tomorrow (ko 7pm).

A tight calf prevented him from getting 90 minutes under his belt for the second-string against Leicester last week as he continues his comeback from a six-month knee injury lay-off.

But even if the Portuguese ace plays against the Potters, the Albion chief has all-but ruled him out of Saturday's Hawthorns encounter.

"Filipe's okay and we hope to have him back training this week," Mowbray added.

"Last week wasn't a major problem, just a tightness in his calf and a little too soon for him.

"If he needs a few more days then we will wait and see.

"Saturday will come too soon, I would suggest.

"He probably needs another week's training.

"We may play him in the reserves tomorrow - but we'll see."

Abdoulaye Meite (calf) is still not fit enough to train but Do-heon Kim is ahead of schedule as he continues his comeback from the knee ligament damage he suffered at Middlesbrough just over three weeks ago.

"Abou is still getting treatment," said Mowbray.

"We hope to have him out on the pitch with the physios later this week.

"Kim did some running during his trip to Korea so he's ahead of schedule.

"But we're not getting too far ahead of ourselves because, as we saw with Filipe, players can steamroller ahead and then hit a brick wall and not be able to do anything for two weeks.

"But Kim's doing okay."

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