The Rotherham camp has been affected by illness this week as they prepare to welcome Wanderers to the New York Stadium.
The Millers are battling for survival and currently find themselves in the drop zone after a run of one win in seven.
Matt Hamshaw’s side suffered a narrow defeat at Huddersfield last weekend after Lenny Agbaire’s own goal.
"There's been a few taken, staff and players alike, including the gaffer,” assistant Dale Tonge told the club site. "That's why he is not here doing this (media).
"The early part of the week, the Sunday after the game, a few of the boys reported that and the manager the same.
"It affected the group during the early part of the week. There were provisions made where quite a few people weren't in at that point on Monday.
"There was enough of the boys in to get some work done, but it was more of a case of protecting the group.
"We haven't got a plethora of players at the minute so it's being smart and doing things right, and it was the right thing to do at the start of the week."
Rotherham thought they had done enough to leave the Toughsheet Stadium with a point on Boxing Day until Josh Sheehan’s last-gasp winner.
Tonge expects another tough test this weekend on the other side of the Pennines but wants the Millers to focus on how they can affect the game.
“They will respect us with us being the home side, but they will focus totally on themselves,” he continued.
“They are a very good team with a manager who knows how to get out of this league and some top players.
“With how they won the game at the weekend, they'll come here in very good spirits. They're a very good team but one we're prepared for.
“They are a dangerous side, we knew that when we played them on Boxing Day. They carry a lot of threats in different areas of the pitch, especially in forward areas.
"We have to be aware of that but at the same time, we have got to make sure we can do what we can to affect the game.
"They are in good form, fighting at the other end of the table, but that comes with its own pressures as they are fighting to try and get into the top two. At the same time we are in our own fight and we have to try and make sure we do our bit.”
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