Australian rules in n his homeland; But hero Cahill craving Cup win to underline his iconic status.

Byline: IAN DOYLE

ARECENT newspaper report in Australia argued the case for the country's most influential sportsperson. But rather than famed Antipodean talents such as Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne, Wendell Sailor and Andrew Johns, it was a name far more familiar to Evertonians that came out on top.

For Tim Cahill, the exalted status was further confirmation of a reputation that has blossomed since arriving at Goodison Park almost five years ago.

Coupled with his exploits for the Socceroos, the 29-year-old has become a hugely recognisable figure in his homeland, a profile that will mean thousands are expected to tune in during the early hours to watch Everton's FA Cup final against Chelsea tomorrow.

And Cahill is acutely aware so many Australian hopes will be resting on him at Wembley.

"In Australia there are a lot of kids who look up to me, and I try to do the right thing for them," he says. "I try to play with my heart on my sleeve, and I think they enjoy that I'm not only doing it for Everton but I'm doing it for Australia too.

"Every game I play in the Premier League, I have Australia behind me. I have a family that watches every game at all hours, and they send me texts before and after the games wishing me luck and so on.

"The Premier League is the biggest thing in the world and the FA Cup is one of the most prestigious cups in the world.

It's something I am passionate about and I would watch it as a kid.

"I'm flying the flag, but I'm so proud to be in that position." Cahill adds: "Every time I play on the pitch I want to be someone who changes the game, a leader, whether it's scoring the goal, heading off the line or being involved at set plays.

"Everton are a pretty radical outfit in the fact that we pride ourselves on set plays on being very regimented. we can spend two hours in the video room and we'll go through tactics.

"As a team, it's only a small squad but we do tell each other off if things go wrong, and we do praise each other as well." Cahill, of course, is no stranger to FA Cup finals having appeared for Millwall against Manchester United at Cardiff in 2004.

Indeed, he is poised to become the first Australian to start two FA Cup finals.

Craig Johnston, who played Under-21 football for England but was Australian, won the Cup with Liverpool in 1986 and played as a substitute on the losing side in 1988.

The only full Australian international ever to win the FA Cup to date is Harry Kewell with Liverpool in 2006, while the first Australian ever to play in an FA Cup final was Joe Marston for Preston North End in their defeat to West Bromwich Albion in 1954.

The FA Cup final appearance with Millwall, which resulted in a 3-0 defeat, was Cahill's last appearance for the Lions before being taken out of the Championship to Goodison by David Moyes.

As rank underdogs, the midfielder recalls the message to the players that day was to enjoy the moment.

But with Everton aiming to bring a successful conclusion to a memorable Cup run, Cahill admits the only way he will enjoy Wembley tomorrow is with the trophy lofted above his head.

"Cardiff was a great experience but it had a different feel to it, because to get to the final with a team like Millwall was amazing," says the Australian. "Dennis Wise had a great bunch of lads and strong team bond, which is like here at Everton.

"To be honest, our Cup final that year was the semi-final against Sunderland at Old Trafford.

"Dennis Wise and Ray Wilkins told us to enjoy the day in the final, and that's what we did. We knew United were the better team and to be there was fantastic for us and our supporters.

"But this time we'll only enjoy it if we win it. With the collective group we have at Everton and the squad of players, we do have a realistic chance of winning.

"With the momentum we have shown in the last five months, when people thought we might fall away, we have a massive chance of winning if everything goes right on the day. Losing against Chelsea will be hard to take because this is a really big chance for us to give something back to our fans and ourselves and the gaffer. It's up to us to take that chance." C ahill's Goodison career has been hampered in recent years by recurring metatarsal problems, with the latest problem leaving him frustratingly sidelined as Everton stuttered during the opening weeks of the campaign.

Cahill, though, looked back home for salvation and, after a successful operation by renowned Australian surgeon Kim Slater, has produced another impressive run of form, notably when pressed into a makeshift striker's role with an injury crisis gripping Everton's forward line during the winter.

"I had an indifferent start to the season because I was coming back from another metatarasal injury," he says. "I'd had radical surgery, and who knows, the injury might have been career threatening.

"I'd done the injury twice before and I was willing to take the risk of the surgery not working. Even now I'm constantly having rehab and making sure everything is all right.

"Kim Slater, who did the operation, does the cricketers and rugby players,. He is a pretty radical guy, he doesn't so much take risks but really believes in what he is doing.

"I'd spoken to a lot of surgeons, people in America, Holland and Belgium, but I knew Kim was the right guy for me.

"There was never any nagging doubt about the injury because, rather than have reserve games, I went straight back into the first team against Stoke and scored the winner, and I kicked on from there.

"The manager lets me go back to Australia for treatment and knows when I come back I'll give everything on the pitch." Cahill adds: "My main aim was to play 35 games this season, get 10 goals and just be fit. It's been a great season for me because I've worked very hard off the pitch to keep my fitness at the best it can be.

"Now I want to take that into next season as I feel next season is going to be very big for me. I want to play a whole season free of injury and replicate what I've done in the past."This time we'll only enjoy it if we win it - it's up to us to take that chance TIM CAHILL

CAPTION(S):

Tim Cahill's semi-final success was tainted by his miss in the shoot-out against Manchester Unit ed (left) - a very different story to 2004 (right) as he celebrates the winner for Millwall against Sunderland