REFEREE Steve Bennett takes charge of the biggest game of his career on Sunday when he oversees the Carling Cup final.

Bennett, from Orpington, will be refereeing his first major domestic final when Chelsea and Liverpool meet at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

He said: "I was thrilled to be appointed. It is a prestigious final and something all referees work towards.

"You know through the season how things are going by the appointments you get and the number of games that come your way. But there are no guarantees you will get a final, and it is always nice to be recognised when things are going well."

Although it is his first major final as a referee, Bennett is no stranger to the big occasion.

He was involved in two FA Cup finals, as a linesman in 1995 for the Manchester United verus Everton match and as fourth official for the first final at the Millennium Stadium between Liverpool and Arsenal in 2001.

He said: "The FA Cup is always a special competition because everyone knows it all around the world but, obviously, this compares as one of the top appointments I have received."

Bennett has already taken charge of two big Liverpool matches this season, against Everton in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park and at home to Manchester United.

He has refereed Chelsea against Middlesbrough and Southampton at Stamford Bridge, as well as at Newcastle in an earlier round of the Carling Cup.

Bennett said: "The important thing is for me not to get caught up in the hype and the furore of it all. My preparation will be identical to any other game.

"I know the teams fairly well having refereed them both so I am well aware of their styles of play."

He added: "The laws of the game don't differ because it is a cup final, but we all know it is different from a normal league match. They are two excellent teams, who are both capable of some good football and in an ideal world I will be able to just sit back and let them play."