Avram Grant was up for the cup once more as he prepared for the big Sunday showdown with Stoke City. The manager has a full complement of players to choose from - with Robbie Keane and Victor Obinna firmly in his mind for the Britannia Stadium.
Avram on why he loaned out Kieron Dyer to Ipswich...
"He is a very good player and hasn't played for the last month. Now he needs to play. He has gone to Ipswich. Everybody there knows him. He will stay there one month and then come back to us.
"If he was fit and was playing like at the beginning of the season, he would find a place in the team but unfortunately he had this injuries and he is trying very hard in the training. For him now it is important to play for one month and then come back to us.
Avram on Robbie Keane's importance...
"Robbie is better than he was. I think we need to see on Saturday but he will be available on Sunday. There is always a place for a good player but the competition is very good for us and for all the players. Since we have had more strikers, all the strikers are better. We didn't mention the ones here before like Carlton Cole. Since Robbie and Demba Ba came he has scored a lot of goals and Freddie is also doing very well, and Victor Obinna too, so the competition is good.
"He came in at a very hard time for the team and we had a lot of injuries, and a lot of problems. He played very well against Blackburn and then got injured. He has already been important for us in a short space of time and also for the dressing room. I just hope that he will be fit and everything will be OK.
Avram on Scott Parker's shoulder...
"Scott Parker is always fit even if he is not fit!
Avram on Frederic Piquionne's cup pedigree...
"He could be a lucky omen! He did well except in the final last year when he missed from 22 centimetres when it was nil-nil. He knows the feeling, i am sure if he plays he will do his best.
Avram on Thomas Hitzlsperger...
"He has made an impact. He was our first signing and we wanted him very much. He was very good in the pre-season. He got injured just before the start of the season and to lose an important player was not easy. He is coming back and you see he is having a big impact. He is an intelligent player and more efficient from the midfield.
"The other players like him because they spent six weeks with him in the summer. They saw the quality he has and he is a good professional and a good lad. They missed him."
Avram on taking on Stoke for the second week running...
"It is not a secret that the league is more important but also we are coming to every game like we want to win. We want to win on Sunday. The FA Cup is a good competition even though we know our first priority - as it is for Stoke - is the league.
Although we are playing Stoke again, the preparation is the same. Always we are trying to play our game and our tactics are the same. It has been no different
We have done well lately. Every game in the cup we have followed with a win in the league. It gives you confidence. Now we are coming with good confidence but also we know who we are playing. They are a tough team
Avram on the chances of going to the final again...
"The league is more important but it doesn't mean we won't give everything. As you saw in the Carling Cup, we gave everything and we had a good run. We want to do the same. We are one game from Wembley and personally I want to be there again. We will do everything to win but we know Stoke have the same ambition and they also want to be in the semi-final.
"It would be a good feeling to be at Wembley - for us and the supporters. But first we need to win a very difficult quarter-final."