West Bromwich Albion boss Roy Hodgson insists his side's next two Premier League fixtures are more important than Saturday's FA Cup tie against Norwich City.

And he has revealed he will not risk losing key players for league action as he weighs up his team selection for the fourth round clash with the Canaries.

Midfielder Paul Scharner is still doubtful because of an Achilles problem that sidelined him for Saturday's 2-1 win at Stoke.

Full-backs Steven Reid (ankle and knee) and Billy Jones (hamstring) could be available, while Jonas Olsson came through the Britannia Stadium game with no ill-effects after a calf injury forced him to him miss the previous four games – but the medical staff remain cautious with him.

And Hodgson insists the Baggies' top-flight trip to Fulham four days later and home clash with Swansea the following Saturday must take priority.

'The difference between the last cup game where we played Cardiff is that we only had one game per week then and whatever happened in that game we knew we had a full week to prepare before our next league game,' he told Albion's official website.

'Now we are looking at only three days to prepare so I will not be taking risks if there are people who might be ruled out of the next two league games if they play in this one.

'We will obviously leave those players out if our medical staff persuade me that they might be a risk. The squad is increasing in size compared to a few weeks ago and we're not as badly off as we were so it might be a good opportunity for one or two of the players, if they get their chance to come in, to show what they can do.

'We have to make sure we don't run the risk of not being able to play people on the Wednesday and next Saturday because we made their injuries worse by playing them this Saturday.

'So, I'm looking very much at the squad as a whole and I'm looking at the players who have been bearing the brunt of the work we've had to do in the first 22 games and will maybe give them a break at the weekend to keep them up my sleeve for the Wednesday and following Saturday.'