LONDON -- Mauricio Pochettino has said the FA Cup is a priority for Tottenham and has challenged his fringe players to prove themselves in the home tie against Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday.
Paul Gascoigne, Ricky Villa, Danny Blanchflower and Dave Mackay are all part of Tottenham's rich history in the FA Cup, but the cub have not won the competition since 1991.
Pochettino reached the League Cup final in his first season at White Hart Lane but has rested his best players in the domestic cups, Europa League knockout matches and even this season's Champions League.
But the Spurs manager knows his second string should have enough to beat League Two Wycombe and warned that there could be no excuses for failure.
"It [the FA Cup] needs to be a priority. We are in the FA cup, Premier League and Europa League. Three big challenges," he said.
"When you are involved in three competitions and you have 25 players, it is important in this type of game to give some responsibility to the players who are not too much involved in the Premier League or Europa League.
"But that does not mean the FA Cup is not an objective. Saturday is not an excuse. If you want to be long-term at Tottenham and deserve to wear the shirt, it's a great opportunity to show it."
He said the FA Cup would give a lower-ranked club the belief that they could beat a big opponent but added: "If we're ready to compete, be sure we'll go to the next round.
"It's important to take this game seriously and be ready. When you play 11 against 11, for them it's the World Cup final, one of the most important games in their history. We need to stay at a good level, more than physical but a mental level."
Pochettino will be without Toby Alderweireld (hamstring), Harry Kane (groin) and Danny Rose (knee) on Saturday but he hopes to have them available for Tuesday's Premier League trip to Sunderland.
One player certain to start against the Chairboys is striker Vincent Janssen, still without a goal from open play since joining Spurs for £17 million in the summer.
Janssen has been left out of the squad for the last three league games and last featured in the third-round win over Aston Villa, when he was replaced on hour after a poor showing.
Pochettino said: "For me it is not an issue. Janssen is not in his best moment but he is young, it is first season. The most important thing is we believe in him and trust in him.
"If he has the possibility to play, he is ready to give his best. If not he must wait on the bench for another opportunity, but I have no doubt about him."