"There's no bigger incentive for the players to put on a show tonight because they're playing at Anfield in front of a big crowd for a trophy," said the reserve team boss.
"We want them to put on a performance and get the fans talking about them and maybe anticipating bigger things from them next season. We've already seen Emiliano Insua, Damien Plessis and Nabil El Zhar feature in Rafa's plans this season and hopefully there will be more next year.
"It's a big game, the biggest of the season for our boys, but it's one we targeted at the start of the year and one we hoped we'd be taking part in. Now we're here, it's about performing and getting the right result.
"The unfortunate thing from our point of view is that we have a number of players missing through injury and so we're down to our last 15 or 16 lads.
"Jay Spearing, Ray Putterill, Ryan Crowther and Daniel Ayala are all injured while Gerardo Bruno is away with Spain at the European Championships in Turkey. It would have been nice to go into the game with everyone available but it's not to be. We have great faith in the boys who will come in that they can do a good job for us tonight.
"We don't know what sort of team [Villa] will send up here, whether it will be one of a similar age to ours or one with a bit more experience, but we'll cope with whatever it is.
"We've seen a DVD of their game with Chelsea and we had them watched against Arsenal so we know a bit about them. They're very strong and aggressive, they will press high up the pitch but they'll also look to play football as well.
"They're a typical Kevin MacDonald side and he will have them up and ready for the game, there's no doubt about that.
"On the night it's going to be about what we do. We'll take the boys onto the pitch for a good 20-25 minutes before the game to get them used to the surroundings because this is a big night for them and we want them to relax and be able to play their normal game."