Ivan Sproule has netted in every round of the Tennent's Scottish Cup this year and the Hibernian striker is determined to keep that run going against arch-rivals Hearts.

The Edinburgh clubs will meet at Hampden Park for the fourth time this season and a cup final place is up for grabs for the winners.

Hearts boast a superior league position and a far bigger squad than Hibs and there is little doubt they are the favourites to triumph this weekend.

But Sproule is confident he can fire the underdogs to glory.

He said: ``The cup has been special to me this year, I've scored a few goals and I would like to continue to do that all the way to the final.

``I want to win the cup badly for the supporters and for the rest of the team.

``Everybody wants to do this for a good, young team who play attractive football, because you won't be remembered unless you actually win something.

``I'm sure everyone else feels the same as myself. We have to get our hands on some kind of silverware.''

Meanwhile, Hearts defender Jose Goncalves hopes the epic journey his family make from Switzerland to Italy to see him play in the semi-final on television will not be made in vain.

The former FC Thun player signed for the Edinburgh side in January but made only his third appearance in last week's Bank of Scotland Premier League match at Falkirk because regular Andy Webster was ill.

The Portuguese full-back, 20, who is confident of retaining his place despite the return of the Scottish international, hopes to help Hearts overcome Hibs to give his family reason to make the trip all the way to Scotland for the May 13 final.

He said: ``My family are going to make a nine-hour round trip to Lake Como in Italy from their home in Lausanne just to watch the Scottish Cup semi-final and cheer me on.

``It is a four-and-a-half hour journey there and back so I just hope that Hearts win and it is well worth the trek.

``There is no Sky television in Switzerland so that is why they are having to travel such a distance.

``They will have to drink lots of coffee to stay awake but if Hearts are victorious they might even break open the champagne.

``My parents and brother and sister were always very supportive, they used to love watching me play for FC Thun and they came along all the time when I played in the Champions League and in the Swiss championship.

``I told them that the Edinburgh derby is a huge game and a good game to watch.

``But my dream is that one day all the family can come to Scotland and see me play for Hearts.

``Who knows, it might even be in the Scottish Cup final?''

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