Jarrad Branthwaite is treating Goodison Park’s final Merseyside derby as ‘just another game’.
Wednesday’s showdown with Liverpool will be Everton’s last-ever derby in their spiritual home before the move to Bramley-Moore Dock next season.
The clash has added motivation for both sides after exiting the FA Cup’s fourth round last weekend to Bournemouth and Plymouth Argyle respectively.
David Moyes’ side will be looking to claim further bragging rights with a win that would see them edge their local rivals by 42 victories to 41 at Goodison.
Branthwaite opened the scoring in April’s derby as the Blues took a huge step towards Premier League safety while also denting Liverpool’s title challenge.
But while the defender acknowledges the Grand Old Lady’s last hurrah is a big moment for fans, he is refusing to build it up from a playing perspective.
“I think it will [be special] for the fans especially,” said Branthwaite.
“For the players, it obviously is the last season at Goodison, but it’s a game at the end of the day.
“We’ve got a job to do, but it will be different for the fans, I think they will create that atmosphere, but it’s for us to go out there and do a job.
“It’s the Merseyside derby, it’s another game that we are looking to win, that’s it. If you build it up too much, then you can fall under the pressure, if you know what I mean.
“I think for us as players, we’re going into it with the belief that we can result like last season.
“If you go into it bigging it up, that it’s a Merseyside derby, all the pressure’s on, and everyone’s watching; then you probably won’t play your best.
“So like I say, it’s another game, we need to go out and perform and see what we can do.”
A front-footed approach proved to be key to Everton’s most recent derby victory, their first in 14 years at Goodison and three years overall, last April.
Branthwaite believes the hosts must adopt a similar approach, as they have done under Moyes, after being caught cold in the cup exit to Bournemouth.
He added: “Maybe Saturday we didn’t start as well as we should have or as well as we have done in the last three games.
“One thing we can learn from it is that on Wednesday we need to be ready from the first whistle. If we are not, like against Bournemouth, they will punish us.
“We need to be on the front foot from the first whistle, and be ready to take it on.”