One year ago, Chelsea faced Arsenal in the final of the same competition and were beaten 3-1. It proved our biggest defeat of the season.

Hayes lamented the lack of battling qualities from her side that day and 12 months earlier, after the Blues had been defeated by Manchester City by the same scoreline, an inability to retain possession was highlighted as the major fault.

Those two rare cup final defeats had followed Chelsea lifting the Conti Cup the previous two years, yet it is the manner of the setbacks that followed that is spurring the squad on for Sunday’s match against Arsenal.

'I have watched our performances in the last two Conti Cup finals and the players have, again and again,’ Hayes reveals.

‘Let me be clear on this, the team knows exactly how I feel about the final on Sunday in terms of showing up and showing ourselves. I don't care if this final is important to Arsenal, it is absolutely important to me.

'You have to show up on the day. It’s two top-level teams and both are capable of winning the game. Both have their qualities but you still have to show up and present yourself in the way that gives you the best chance.

‘If you think about our game at the Emirates this season, that was over at half-time. The game at Stamford Bridge was over at half-time, so you better show up from the off. If you don't, it can make it difficult.’

While the Blues lost our league game in north London in December, that was redressed by a 3-1 win at home two weeks ago. And that result adds to the intrigue surrounding Sunday’s showpiece at Molineux.

Having made multiple changes to her side for Wednesday’s Champions League game against Ajax, Hayes confirms that all those who have been playing but were rested for the second leg are fit.

Nathalie Bjorn is unavailable as, having played in the League Cup this season with Everton, she is cup-tied.

‘I chose not to play players against Ajax to give them a limited opportunity to get some rest. I know it was a Champions League game but I trust the squad to be able to deliver. Now we should be fresher as a result of that going into Sunday.’

Hayes said after the Ajax game that our goalscorer and one of the players brought into the starting line-up, Mayra Ramirez, has given her food for thought when it comes to choosing the cup final team.

‘She is a handful, she is difficult, she is hard [for defenders] to manage, but I always start with the strategy. Strategy first, then selection. It’s about getting the strategy right, knowing we're going to play against a team we know very well.

‘They know they didn’t perform well in their last game [against us] so I expect them to be better. They might go to a 3-box-3 formation when in possession and pose a different challenge, with a low full-back.

‘They are very clear in their playing style and with us being a little deeper in the last game, of course, they'll try to pose different questions. Equally, I have to pose different challenges to them, and I quite like that part of it.

'It doesn't get boring when you play someone two weeks later and you’ve got to find different ways to compete.’

Another of those added to the starting line-up midweek, having brought her off the bench in the previous game, was Erin Cuthbert. The Scotland international is certainly in consideration for a cup final start.

‘Erin is definitely in the form of her career,’ declares Hayes. ‘She drives the midfield and has been so consistent with that. She's getting more and more confident in all the areas of midfield play where we've worked on it with her, and she's fearless.

‘Erin Cuthbert is one of the best players in the world.’

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