I would suggest that, with a piece of this magnitude; you don't start learning the notes until you have the technique. Then, you can brag that you recognize your limits, something that very few people can do.
However, if you do want to make progress on it, perhaps you could start by listening to lots of recordings, and getting to the point that you have the whole thing memorized mentally. That way, when you do begin, you'll find it much easier to commit to finger memory.