North v South

A north versus south Final is guaranteed as the four clubs remaining in The FA Tesco Women’s Premier League Cup head into Sunday’s Semi-Finals.

In the south there’s a thrilling Semi in prospect as London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal face each other for the first time since the shock summer moves of England internationals Lianne Sanderson and Anita Asante from the Gunners to the Blues.

Meanwhile in the north Doncaster Rovers Belles come up against The Cup’s surprise package, Preston North End, the Northern Division team stepping into the last four of a major knock-out competition for the first time.

Of the contestants only Arsenal and Doncaster have previously been in the Final, so for Chelsea and Preston there’s a chance to set up an unprecedented occasion for themselves.

Preston’s newly appointed manager Chris Stammers is well aware of that fact – he has been in charge of the Lilywhites for only a couple of weeks, yet he is about to lead his team into the biggest match in the club’s history.

Stammers said: "Credit to the coaches before me who got the club to its current League status and now to this Semi-Final. I’ve really enjoyed my first two League games as manager, and so far I’m unbeaten – let’s hope it stays that way on Sunday!

"Donny will be favourites, but that means the pressure will be on them. I’ll just aim to take away any nerves our girls are feeling and tell them to go out and enjoy it – and if we can pull off a shock, that could really put Preston on the Women’s football map."

Donny will most certainly be expected to win, but the club’s former England midfielder Vicky Exley knows that ‘favourites’ tag can count for nothing.

In 2001-02 the Belles were hot favourites to win their League Cup Semi-Final against Birmingham City, then a Northern Division club, but Exley and Co were beaten.

"The memory of losing that Semi-Final will spur me on," says captain Exley, "and there’s no way I’ll allow any of our players to take Preston lightly. They’ve done well of late, but we’re having a good season too and we’re determined to get to that Final."

Exley’s former England colleagues at Arsenal and Chelsea will likewise be determined, none more so than Sanderson. Having scored a mountain of goals for the Gunners in recent seasons, she will be aiming to shoot down her old club.

She said: "I’ve been waiting to play Arsenal ever since I came to Chelsea and for my first game against them to be such a big one is fantastic.

"I won’t be trying to prove a point, I’ll be focused and disciplined – but beating them would be massive, especially as it would put Chelsea into their first ever major Final."

As Chelsea chase a first Final, Arsenal will be aiming to reach their 13th in the League Cup alone. And after losing last season’s Final to Everton the Gunners captain Faye White desperately wants to get her hands back on the trophy.

But the experienced central defender is looking no further than a Semi-Final in which she will be out to foil sharpshooter Sanderson rather than hoping to see her score goals.

White said: "We know that if you give Lianne a chance she’ll put it away, and with her and Anita up against us it will give the game a bit of added spice.

"But this is a competition we’ve done really well in over the years, so after missing out last season our aim this time is to first get in the Final and then win it."