Tim Cahill set to lead Everton from the front

But assistant manager Steve Round is confident that the work they have done with Cahill on the training ground this week combined with his experience at Eastlands, will stand him in good stead for playing up front against a side that has only conceded one goal in eight away games in the league this season.

'It's not the end of the world if we have to play him there again," said Round. "In fact, it was probably as good a striking performance as we've had this season.

"He has those capabilities. He's an international. He's played in the Premier League for a while now. The question is whether he can consistently do that as a centre-forward or would it take that midfield game away from him? But what we know is that he can play both."

Round added: "We have done a little bit of work with Tim up there. It was getting the right balance between some of the key points of playing the position and not over-coaching him so that he was confused.

"You are trying to put everything into him to get a performance so it's trying to get the happy balance.

"We wanted him to be free to play the Tim Cahill game and also give him a few pointers about what we expected of him in the role.

"I thought his performance was really good at City. His work ethic was tremendous and he got the goal.

"And the way he works up front he's our first line of defence."

Everton's record against Chelsea under David Moyes's management is abysmal, although that era has coincided with the most successful period in the Londoners' history.

Moyes hasn't led his team to victory once in 13 games against them and taken just four points out of a possible 39.

But Round knows what it takes to beat Chelsea, having been with Middlesbrough when they beat them twice at the Riverside in 2006.

And he has urged his current crop of players to be brave enough to go out and take the game to Phil Scolari's side, who are looking for their 12th successive away win in the Premier League.

Round said: "I was on the Middlesbrough coaching staff when we beat Chelsea 3-0 and when they beat them 2-1 the following season - but was on the Derby staff when Chelsea beat us 4-0 as well!

"They're a fantastic team and they've got great players. I've worked with some of those players with England, but no team's invincible especially in the Premier League. That's why it captivates everybody so much. One a given day anybody can beat anybody. We're no exceptions to that. We'll go into the game with the belief that we can win."

In a week when Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger suggested an end to the top four monopoly was imminent, Everton have another chance to start improving their record against the sides who have qualified in every Champions League qualifying position for the past three seasons.

And after Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea all failed to win last weekend, Round sees no reason to be intimidated by their reputation - or physical presence.

He added: "I remember when Arsenal had the Henrys and the Bergkamps and you looked at them in the tunnel and you couldn't believe how big they were.

"They were a really powerful team. When you went out at Highbury you felt that way. I think Chelsea can have the same atmosphere about them.

"Playing on the day you have to defend well against them, defend well against the fast break and the pace up front. And then you have to take your defining moments when they come your way. It's as simple as that - but you don't get many against them."