It's time Robbo's dream came true.

SINCE he first stepped through the doors at Tynecastle, John Robertson has dreamed about gliding down a packed Gorgie Road on an open-decked bus, waving a cup in the air.

It's a while since that part of Edinburgh has seen such celebrations.

Even the veteran Robbo wasn't around the last time Hearts brought a major pot home.

But tomorrow, Roberston, the Jambos' record scorer, will finish his Hearts days a happy man if the maroon and white ribbons are tied to the Scottish Cup tomorrow.

The Hearts legend said: "I've dreamed of coming down Gorgie Road with the cup for 18 years.

We've been in three finals during my time at the club but we're still waiting for that elusive victory.

"Now I honestly believe the time has come for us to deliver."

Blame

Robertson looked serious yesterday as the players went through their paces before retreating to their training hideaway.

But the wee man broke into a big smile when it came to apportioning blame for the Jam Tarts long wait for glory.

"I've been here 18 years and we've failed to deliver.

"Jim Jefferies has been here another 13 - so you could say Jim and I are responsible for 31 of those barren years!

"Rangers fans may be demanding that they don't finish a season without a trophy because they're used to a diet of success.

"But our supporters have put up with 36 years of frustration and that is a long, long time.

"It's too long and now they are demanding success."

Robertson, by far the club's longest-serving player, has had a few brushes with glory.

Hearts twice lost in finals in 1996, both times to Rangers.

But a decade before, Robbo and his team- mates came within 180 minutes of landing a domestic double.

The disappointment of 1986 has long left him but Robertson doesn't want to be feeling the same way tomorrow night.

"We've been close to the prizes a few times in the last couple of years and now we want to go that one step further.

"1986 doesn't bother me any more.

It happened and I'd rather we took it as close as we did than not be involved in the race for the two trophies at all.

"I'd rather go through it all again than not be challenging.

"But we won't accept second best.

"People used to say we could never get past the semi finals.

Now they're saying we can't win finals.

"We're determined to win a trophy now and it will happen because we've got players with a great deal of ability.

"No one should think this is a revenge mission though.

"Rangers won the Scottish Cup on merit in May 1996 and then they won a much closer game in the Coca- ColaCup final later that year.

"We can't change history - but we've got it in our own hands to make it happen for us.

Farewell

"Hearts came close in the league.

But we've still got something to aim for at Parkhead."

Robertson doesn't know whether the Rangers clash will be his finale, or even if he will feature Jim Jefferies' plans tomorrow.

He isn't alone there - several of his old Rangers adversaries are also saying farewell.

But as Robbo points out, their circumstances are rather different.

"It may well be my last game for the club - if the manager picks me.

"The same applies to Richard Gough, Ian Durrant and Ally McCoist.

They are all in exactly the same position as me.

"They have more than 20 medals each but they'll still be determined to go out with one more.

"To be honest it's not important that this might be John Robertson's last final.

"I'm not focusing on that and in any case, I would be happy to stay at Tynecastle if I'm offered a new deal.

"But the most important thing is to end our 36 year wait."

Paul Ritchie is desperate to bring the Cup back to Gorgie to erase the memories of one of the worst days of his career so far, the Scottish Cup final of May 1996.

The youngster, then 19, was in tears on the Hampden turf as a rampant Rangers side destroyed Hearts 5-1 in his first ever major final.

Rangers skipper Richard Gough even offered words of comfort to the inconsolable defender at the final whistle.

And Ritchie confessed: "For a 19-year-old to get that done to you in your first Cup final was devastating.

"Basically Rangers ran over the top of us.

Gilles Rousset made one mistake, and Gary Locke got injured.

Nothing went right.

Gordon Durie and Brian Laudrup just ran riot.

"Gough came up to me at the end and said, `you are still young and you will have a chance to do this again', which was nice but at 19 it was such a hard thing to get over.

"Hopefully there will be no repeat on Saturday.

"I can remember Laudrup even doing keepie-uppie, which must have been great if you were a Rangers fan.

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"But for a fellow pro it was disappointing because we got the run-around and we couldn't get near them to stop it.

"But football is about entertainment and Laudrup on his day is one of the best players in the world."

Ritchie also played in Hearts' 4-3 Coca-Cola Cup defeat against Rangers later that year.

And he knows there is one player he will have to watch if his dream of third time lucky is to come true.

He said: "Rangers have a few players injured and suspended and a few will be playing their last games.

"The script is also written for Ally McCoist.

It will be his last game and throughout his Rangers career he has had scenarios like this.

"You always have to keep an eye on him, even if he only features for part of the game.

"But I have played two finals and I am only 22.

So far I have not tasted victory, so Saturday will be a nice time to start."