In his latest column for evertonfc.com, Willie Kirk previews Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final showdown with Chelsea at Walton Hall Park (2pm) and explains why a new leadership structure and increased investment for Everton Women will allow them to aim high...

BLUES' CUP BELIEF

To beat Chelsea on Sunday we have to be absolutely on top of our game.

We’ll need to be very good in one v one battles and be strong collectively. If you’re off the pace at all against Chelsea, they’ll come out on top.

We’ll probably need to put in our best performance of the season – but it’s a performance everybody here feels we’re capable of.

Ever since the start of the campaign, we said going to Wembley would be a big target for us. We need to win Sunday's game if that’s going to happen.

Nobody is shirking the challenge and everyone is looking forward to it.

And if we achieve a victory, it’ll be a big step forward in terms of our long-term development, too.

It will give us the belief that, not only can we compete with these top teams, but we can beat them on our day.

REFRESHED AND READY

We’ve had a lot of players away on international duty over the past fortnight, and it is great for them to receive that recognition from their countries.

The players who haven’t been away have been working very hard back at USM Finch Farm.

We’ve got some good individual development work in and the players have really pushed themselves in the sessions we’ve had.

We’ve had a nice balance in terms of putting that work in and having some time off and getting refreshed, and we’re all really looking forward to Sunday now.

We had the Goodison Sleepout, too. That was a big thing for the staff and players who joined supporters to sleep overnight at Goodison to raise funds for Everton in the Community.

It has raised more than £23,000 so far and will go towards Everton in the Community's 'Home Is Where The Heart Is' campaign, which supports young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. It's a brilliant initiative and it was great to see the team and staff engage with it.

BIG AMBITIONS

Last week, the Club also announced Everton Women will benefit from increased squad investment and a new leadership structure as we aim to challenge for major honours.

The CEO, Denise Barrett-Baxendale, and the Board have put forward a structure that is going to strengthen us in terms of staff resource and expertise.

Our standards are fantastic and I think this will make us even more professional and allow us to operate at an even higher level.

It’s a very exciting time for Everton Women.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE ABOUT EVERTON WOMEN'S INVESTMENT AND LEADERSHIP BOOST