PALACE boss Alan Pardew admits that the FA Cup will take on added significance for his side the longer they stay in the competition.
The Eagles progressed to the last 16 with a 3-2 success at Southampton on Saturday, with Marouane Chamakh netting twice either side of a Yaya Sanogo strike as Palace twice came from behind to win at St Mary's.
And while Pardew says that staying in the Premier League is his number one priority for the season, he says that the FA Cup provides an opportunity for Palace, particularly with favourites Chelsea and Manchester City suffering surprise defeats in the fourth round.
"We need to stay in the division," he said.
"The cup is not high on our priority list, but being down to the last 16 it does become more serious.
"It is exciting for the fans with the draw and they will always look forward to the cup games."
But Pardew says the cup run will not distract his team from the task in hand in the Premier League, with the Eagles currently sitting 12th in the table.
"We are far from safe," he said.
"We are in a relegation dogfight and we really do have to keep doing what we are doing and fighting and scrapping for points.
"We are focused on trying to achieve our aims and we know that if we can stay in the division, we can grow as a team and as a club."
