Coates on Cup, targets and Luis

The Uruguyan international has only made six starts in 2012-13 - the last coming in the Europa League in Moscow on November 8 - and he is eager for a chance to show the manager what he can do.

With Rodgers expected to make one or two changes for the trip to the Blue Square Bet Premier League side, Liverpool's No.16 is hopeful of getting the call.

Coates told Liverpoolfc.com: "I think the manager might possibly decide to make a few changes for this game but as a player you are always keen to feature in the starting 11, whatever the game.

"I am very hopeful of playing though and being able to help the team.

"I played in the third-round tie last season against Oldham and enjoyed it. That was one of my first appearances for the club and so I tried to really savour it and we managed to get through to the next round. That's what the club wants - to get through each round and try to reach the final."

The centre-back admits he faces a tough job to try and break up the defensive pairing of Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel, but rather than bemoan his lack of first-team chances, he admits it is a task he relishes.

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Coates added: "It is difficult for me as both Martin and Daniel are in great form at the moment. As one of their teammates you also have to support them both all the time and try and pick up things from watching them.

"You can learn from their rich vein of form and work with them so that the club continues to move forward. That's the most important thing here - the club - and the more players who are on top form, then the club will continue to improve.

"I've learned a lot from Jamie Carragher, Daniel and Martin. It's all about getting used to the game here and they have been a great help for me on things like positioning.

"I've learned a lot on a daily basis from those three as they are in my position, but you also learn from the rest of the lads, too.

"I need to keep working hard, but you know that football can be a bit tough at times because the two guys in my position are playing so well at the moment, so I certainly don't have anything to moan about. It's just a case of buckling down and working hard in training, being patient and waiting to get my chance.

"Getting a regular place in the team would mean everything to me because this is such a big club and to be in the starting eleven every weekend would be fantastic for me.

"Every player here wants to do well and be a real part of things at the club."

Coates is hoping Liverpool can go one better than last season and go back to Wembley and win the FA Cup. While admitting losing in the final to Chelsea last season was tough to take, he insists the club can learn from the experience.

He added: It's always tough when you lose a game, even more so when it's a final. I think we'd had a great Cup campaign and you could almost say that we deserved to win the trophy, but that's football.

"I think we need to learn from that defeat and do all we can to reach the final once again and this time try and win it."

While Sunday's opponents Mansfield Town might be a non-league outfit, Coates insists Liverpool will give them respect and not take them lightly.

He said: "I think it's going to be a hard game and the fact that they are in the fifth tier is irrelevant. They will be really up for the the chance to be playing against a top club and they will be trying to give everything.

"That's why we need to be on our guard and be doing our very best to come away with the right result.

"It's going to be a massive occasion for them to be playing against Liverpool so they will be out to win the game at all costs and put on a display to make their supporters happy.

"That's why we should not underestimate them in the slightest and try to put in a big performance of our own and go there knowing that they will be doing everything they can to beat us."

The state of the One Call Stadium pitch at Field Mill has been the subject of debate leading up to the game with the rain storms throughout the country forcing a postponement of their last home game.

However, Coates insists Liverpool will not be too bothered about the pitch and concentrate on the job in hand which is progression to the fourth round.

He added: "I don't think we should be too worried about the state of the pitch. We should be totally focused on our own performance and trying to make sure that we control the game.

"We should not try and use the pitch as an excuse and should just concentrate on our own game.

"We need to be smart and go there aware that they will be motivated and going all out for victory. We need to go there and try and impose our own style of play on the game and try and prevent them from having any opportunity of grabbing a win.

"I think we all share the same aim of playing in the final once again as we still have that sour taste of defeat so we all want to get to Wembley.

"The main thing is to take each game as it comes and make sure we continue to get through each round so we can step on the Wembley turf once again."

Meanwhile, Coates was also keen to pay tribute to club and international teammate Luis Suarez who has been in sensational form in a red shirt hitting 18 goals so far this season, and in an ominous warning for fellow defenders the No.16 insists he can get even better.

He said: "I think Luis can still improve and he is currently one of the best strikers in Europe.

"There are a lot of good strikers but it isn't just about his great goalscoring form. It's the way he works hard for the team in other ways, like pressing and closing down the opposition and winning back possession quickly for the team. That is a great help for the team.

"If you put all that with his never-say-die attitude that is what makes him such a great player.

"He never gives in and what you see him doing during a game he does that every day in training. I don't see any reason why he can't keep up this form for a long time to come. Let's hope he does."

As a close friend of Suarez, Coates also revealed how settled he and his family are in the city.

He said: "All the Liverpool fans like Luis and he is very happy here.

"He likes the city and he is treated well by everyone. His family are also very happy here which is also very important."