Chelsea go into tonight’s quarter-final tie at St Andrew's having secured back-to-back league victories against Everton and Manchester United in which the Blues have scored 10 goals and conceded one.

Hayes is expecting a tough encounter with the Midlands side but says she and her team will focus on producing another strong display.

She said: ‘People think that you just get given wins, but you have to earn them. I suspect it will be as hard as it is every game because you have an opponent to beat.

‘What I know is that I’m going to focus on us, focus on the work we are doing and keep showing the joy in our performances and relentlessness and ruthlessness that was evident against Manchester United.’

Should Chelsea come out on top against Birmingham, the Blues will be one win away from sealing a place in the final at Wembley and Hayes touched on the hunger within the Chelsea squad to achieve FA Cup glory this year.

She added: ‘Any cup final, any competition, if there was a wooden spoon to compete for, we would want to win it. It’s what we are like daily in our environment, so we want to win that as much as we do everything else.’

Blues midfielder Erin Cuthbert missed our away win at Manchester United after picking up an injury while away on international duty, but Hayes confirmed the Scot will be available for tonight’s trip to Birmingham.

‘She’ll be available for the game,’ Hayes confirmed. ‘She took a knock to her jaw and they declare that a concussion. She didn’t feel there was anything, but you must follow protocol.’

Tonight’s game kicks-off at 7.45pm and is available to watch live on the FA Player.