For Gianluca Vialli and his players the Champions League is their most important objective, closely followed by a place in the top three of the Premiership to ensure participation in next season's Champions League. Compared with those aims the FA Cup is just a pleasant curiosity.

For Newcastle, by contrast, winning the FA Cup would ensure not only a UEFA Cup place next season but confirm their resurgence after three years of drift and disillusionment.

Though Vialli is fully aware of the FA Cup's traditions, the return game of the Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona will not be far from his mind when he selects tomorrow's side. The Chelsea manager has always tried to preserve his team's stamina by rotating players and it will not be surprising if Newcastle face a much-changed team.

Gustavo Poyet did not appear against Barcelona and is capable of plotting Newcastle's downfall, and although Celestine Babayaro will be on international duty for Nigeria, Jon Harley can be a match-winner from left-back.

Newcastle will trust in the ability of Alan Shearer and Duncan Ferguson to disrupt Chelsea's central defenders, much as they did when Manchester United were roundly defeated 3-0 in February. On that day Jaap Stam was overrun by Shearer's tenacious strength and Ferguson's command in the air.

Much from Chelsea's point of view will depend on how well Marcel Desailly and Frank Leboeuf withstand a similar test, always assuming Vialli does not decide that the solidity of Emerson Thome is worth retaining. Dennis Wise, the Chelsea captain, may be the biggest influence on a semi-final which promises much.