MICHAEL Carrick insists there's no chance his Middlesbrough players will take their eye off the ball against Rotherham today with Tuesday's trip to Chelsea in mind.
Boro are just 90 minutes away from a first domestic final since winning the Carling Cup in 2004 and head for Stamford Bridge with a goal advantage after their brilliant first leg victory.
But Carrick's side are also well placed in the league and closed the gap to the Championship's top six with their impressive victory at Millwall last time out.
As much as Carrick acknowledges the importance of the Chelsea game, the head coach says his players must have tunnel vision today to ensure they get the job done against the Millers (3pm).
"The next game is always the most important," he said.
"The league is vital in terms of what we want to do and where we want to end up. It's plain and simple. We have to make sure we're at our best, which means preparing right physically and mentally and knowing what challenge we'll face and not underestimating it.
"It's a massive game. We have everything to play for in the league. We're in a position that we've built to over the course of the season. The focus is always on what's next. Yeah, Tuesday is big but for us but as professionals, Saturday is everything for us."
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Sam Greenwood and Finn Azaz will almost certainly start today given they're cup-tied for Chelsea but Carrick didn't give Tuesday's second leg any special treatment as he pondered his selection for Rotherham.
"It's no different to any other game in that sense," he said.
"It doesn't make any difference to us. There are always decisions to make. I have to have an eye on the next game or what the next week looks like or the balance of the squad and freshness and fitness and what game suits certain individuals.
"That doesn't change, regardless of what the game is on Tuesday night."
Rotherham are rock bottom but stunned Boro at the New York Stadium on Boxing Day and Carrick says his players won't underestimate the Millers.
"It's a dangerous, tough game. We found that when we played there not long ago and how the game panned out and the challenges we faced," he said.
"We certainly have to be ready and respect what they are and what they're fighting for and the position they're in.
"We're in a position where we're desperate to do well and desperate for points as much as anyone else so we have to take that into the game."
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