“It’s slightly different now but I hope it doesn’t go that way,” said the Goodison manager. “We’ve still got something to go with these games until the end of the season.

“We have an opportunity of finishing at least fifth and we have to try and do that.”

The likes of Lars Jacobsen, Jo, Jack Rodwell, Dan Gosling, Segundo Castillo, Joseph Yobo and James Vaughan are all vying for a starting role this evening as Moyes seeks fresh legs.

“Am I tempted to rest? It’s not normally my way, but possibly in this game it’s a consideration,” he said. “Partly because of the 120 minutes on Sunday. I’ve got a few ideas but I’m not totally decided.”

Moyes has never beaten Chelsea during his seven years at Goodison but does not believe victory tonight would hand Everton any major psychological boost ahead of next month’s final.

“There is a long way to the final,” he added. “We’ve still got a month or so to go, Chelsea have some big games to play before that. We have as well. I don’t think anything will be about this game. We had a tight game at Goodison and we’ll have to see how this one goes.”

Of Chelsea’s revival under caretaker manager Guus Hiddink, Moyes added: “Guus has done a really good job. I’ve only come across him a few times.

“I’ve called him on several occasions for information on Russian players and he was very good in giving that to me information. His record in Europe is very good.”

Moyes also entered the debate over the state of the Wembley pitch, which was criticised by both Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson.

“Am I concerned about it? It’s not great, I’ve got to say that,” said the Everton manager. “The standard of the pitches in the Premier League are really good.

“The disappointing thing is that it looks like this pitch at Wembley is not at the level that the Premier League pitches are week-in week-out.”

Meanwhile, one-time Everton midfield target Joao Moutinho has signed a contract extension with Sporting Lisbon which will keep him at the club until the summer of 2014.

HOWARD WEBB will realise his lifetime’s ambition after he was yesterday confirmed as the referee of this season’s FA Cup final between Everton and Chelsea.

The assistant referees will be Michael Mullarkey (Devon) and David Richardson (West Riding), with Martin Atkinson (West Riding) the fourth official.