Martin O'Neill is hoping Aston Villa don't get distracted by their cup exploits as his priority is a top-four Premier League finish.
The Villa boss has been delighted with Villa's run to the Carling Cup final and FA Cup charge which will see them face Chelsea in the semi-finals at Wembley next month.
However he is determined that Villa will focus on the bread and butter of league action and sneak into fourth position which will put Champions League football on the agenda next term.
Villa are seventh in the table, but just four points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, with two games in hand on their rivals.
"We are still fighting. We are still battling there," O'Neill told the club's official website.
"Because of the cup runs and because of the League Cup semis, replays against Crystal Palace and the postponed Premier League games, because of all that, it means it's going to be pretty hectic between now and the end of the season.
"At the moment we are trying to get dates against Everton and Hull. It's going to be pretty exciting if we can stay in there and hang in there.
"Saturday's game against Stoke will be extremely difficult, followed by an equally difficult away trip to Wigan.
"But we've got to hang in, try and stay the course and stay with it."