Andy Griffin insists The Potters cannot use tiredness as an excuse for failure in a busy week of Championship football.
The City defender returns to action for Tuesday's home game against Southampton after missing the trip to Wolves through suspension. He will then lead the Potters out again on Friday night against Scunthorpe, again at the Britannia.
"We have to be professional and get on with it," he told stokecityfc.com
"Footballers are spoiled and pampered enough. It's not like we're going out working ten hour shifts and digging up roads and putting in real hard graft.
"Being a footballer is a great life and you get very well paid so having three games in a week is nothing to moan about really."
The former Newcastle United star believes momentum will carry the team through, as they look to build on two wins against promotion rivals Cardiff City and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
"Whilst confidence is high you want to keep playing game after game," said Griffin.
"Beating Wolves 4-2 was a fantastic result and we need to carry the self-belief, confidence, desire and character into the next game.
"To win 4-2 away from home in any league is fantastic and it keeps us right up there.
"I think we rode our luck a bit at times but we showed the character and desire to take the game to Wolves and beat them."
By Matt Nichols
