Everton have one eye on the FA Cup final as they prepare to host Manchester City at Goodison Park.
David Moyes’ side are already on course for a European football next season and could yet take fifth-place from Aston Villa, but the Toffees’ manager will also be taking special care of his stars ahead of their showdown with Chelsea on May 30.
Their midweek cup final rehearsal at Stamford Bridge ended in a goalless draw meaning Everton consolidated their grip on sixth place in the Premier League.
They are now eight points ahead of seventh-placed West Ham United with five games to go.
But manager Moyes had warned his players against complacency before their first visit to Wembley since 1995.
His players certainly showed that they haven’t taken their eye off the ball on Wednesday night though, putting in a solid performance against an in-form Chelsea side.
Defenders Phil Jagielka and Tony Hibbert were rested for the clash in midweek but could return, while England Under-21 international Jack Rodwell is also pushing for a start.
Jagielka is expected to return alongside centre-back partner Joleon Lescott, who scored in both games against City last season.
Injury prone Louis Saha is expected to be a bit-part player for the rest of the league campaign in preparation to face Guus Hiddink’s side at the end of next month.
That could mean fit-again James Vaughan being given his chance to prove his worth up front.
Manager David Moyes said: “We’ve been playing very well of late, but we know we have to do it all again if we’re to clinch fifth place.
“City still have aspirations of their own and they’ll be coming here to win, that’s the only sort of mentality Mark Hughes knows I think.
“Beating Manchester United and drawing with Chelsea within a week shows just how far we’ve come in so little time and of course our aim is to break up the top four.
“Some players who perhaps haven’t played as much this season will get their chance in the next few weeks.
“We need to see what they’re capable of and whether they will still be able to do it next season – it is a very important time for them, they must turn up to the party if they want to stay at Everton.”
Manchester City still have something to play for, as Mark Hughes' side could yet earn a place in the re-titled Europa League as it will be next season.
But the Eastlands outfit will have to pull out all the stops if they’re to take anything from Goodison Park.
City have only scored one away goal in 2009, while they have also failed to find the net in the previous three matches against Everton.
Last weekend’s victory over West Bromwich Albion was mixture of good and bad.
In front of goal, City were superb managing to hit the net four times, with Brazilian Robinho getting his first since the turn of the year.
However, defensively City still look very shaky and Hughes is mulling over the chance to blood a few youngsters.
He said: “There are a number of players who are very much in my thoughts.
“We still need to win Premier League games - that's important for us, but if the opportunity presents itself to blood a young player, we'll have a look at that.
“Everton have been in great form and had two great results in the last week, we have to go there and unsettle them.
“We know it won’t be easy, but we also know that if we put in the performance that we’re capable of, then we have a good chance of winning.
“It was great to see Robinho scoring again last weekend, he is dedicated to this side and I think it has been hurting him that he hasn’t scored for so long.
Robinho’s strike partner Craig Bellamy is likely to miss the rest of the season due to a persistant knee injury, while full-back Pablo Zabaleta is sidelined by a hamstring strain and Shaun Wright-Phillips is a major doubt for the Everton clash due to an ankle problem.
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