England striker Barr was in the Charlton Athletic line-ups which last season lost The FA Women's Cup Final to Arsenal and 12 months earlier went down to Fulham, both games ending in 3-0 scorelines.

With Charlton and another of her old clubs, Everton, also having reached the quarter-finals Barr was keen to hear the outcome of the draw - and she wasn’t best pleased for her team to have been paired with Arsenal, albeit at home.

The Gunners have already this season won at Birmingham in both the National Division and the Premier League Cup, and although those were the only defeats Blues have suffered in their last 13 matches they will again be the underdogs.

Barr said: "We couldn’t have had a harder draw, but if you’re going to win The FA Women's Cup you’re probably going to have to beat Arsenal somewhere along the way so we’ve got to do it in the quarter-finals.

"When they beat us in the League back in October we were still coming together as a team and we played poorly on the day, but the League Cup tie in December was much closer and we now feel we are capable of beating them.

"It will mean everybody involved, from the management to the players on the pitch and the subs on the bench, to believe we can do it – but if we have that belief and everyone performs to the best of their ability then we can come through.

"As a team we certainly won’t be frightened of Arsenal, and as an individual I’ve got a personal incentive as they stopped me from getting an FA Women's Cup winners medal with Charlton last season.

"The Charlton side didn’t do itself justice that day, mind you, and it was a similar story the year before when we lost to Fulham - but this time round I want to not only get to the final but also to finish it with a winners medal in my hand."

While Barr is trying to undo Arsenal her previous teams still left in the competition will both be lining up against lower-league sides, Charlton at home to the Northern Division’s top team Sunderland and Everton at Southern Division leaders Chelsea.

Meanwhile Bristol Rovers, who will visit the Northern Division’s bottom of the table team Tranmere Rovers, appear to have the easiest task of the five top flight teams taking part in the quarter-finals on Sunday, 13 February.

Barr said: "I expect the semi-final draw to be made up of National Division teams. Bristol Rovers shouldn’t have any great problems at Tranmere and I can’t see Charlton or Everton not going through.

"Sunderland have been doing really well in the Northern Division and of course they knocked out Liverpool of the National Division in the last round, but I’ll be really surprised if Charlton slip up at home.

"Everton might have a more difficult time of it at Chelsea, who are flying at the top of the Southern Division, but the Everton side this season is really strong and I think they’ll go through and could be a real danger in the semi-finals."

The quarter-final matches are to be played just four days before England’s first international of the year, a Milton Keynes meeting with Italy as the build-up begins in earnest towards the 2005 UEFA Women’s European Championship finals.

Looking ahead to these important matches on both the club and international fronts, Barr said: "It will be the biggest few days of the season so far and I’m already getting myself psyched up for two massive challenges.

"I’d love to help Birmingham win some silverware in my first season at the club, and if I could do that then follow up by being selected for the Women’s Euro 2005 England squad it would make it a fantastic season for me.

"The last couple of England training camps have gone well for me and, if selected for the Italy game, I’ll be doing my very best to keep myself in the frame for the squad of 20 that will be named for the Euros.

"Italy have qualified for the finals but won’t be in our group, so the friendly against them will be a very good test for us without being put under the pressure of facing a team that we’ll have to meet again at the group stage of the finals in June.

"The fact that this year’s finals are being played in England makes it more special than ever to be involved. There’s tremendous competition for places - but I’ll be working as hard as I possibly can to earn myself a shirt in that final squad."