ANYONE who saw Andy Murray's wide-eyed awe when he was presented with a Hibs shirt by Tony Mowbray earlier this season would be in no doubt that Britain's No 1 tennis player has more than a passing interest in the fortunes of the team from Easter Road.

But Murray isn't the only star from another sport who will be taking a keen interest in events at Hampden Park tomorrow.
7 Wonders

We caught up with some of Scotland's sporting heroes who will be willing Hibs or Hearts on to victory, and a place in the Tennent's Scottish Cup final.
BERNARD GALLACHER

Former European Ryder Cup captain
Hibs supporter

"I'll be watching the match on television from home at Wentworth but I'll be first in the queue for a ticket for the final if Hibs get through. Although my son and I go to watch Fulham in London, I was at Easter Road for the Celtic game the other week and thought Hibs played pretty well for 30 minutes but Celtic dominated the rest of the game.

"Hibs have been inconsistent lately and that worries me going into a big game like this one. Hibs are a young side with a lot of flair, but the last time they met Hearts in a crunch match not so long ago they lost 4-1. I don't want to sound pessimistic but losing to Inverness wasn't ideal preparation and I think this could be a season too early for Hibs in the Cup."
GORDON ROSS

Leeds and Scotland stand-off
Hearts supporter

"I grew up in Edinburgh and was always a Hearts supporter, so I'm delighted to see us just one step away from the cup final again. I did have the chance of tickets for this weekend and Leeds don't have a game, but we're training - we're fighting relegation and it's a tough time right now. It was going to be a nightmare trying to get to Glasgow and back without getting myself in a bit of trouble.

"But I'm pretty confident we will win and get to Hampden again, and I'm definitely looking for tickets for that one. I just feel with Hibs now missing Garry O'Connor and Derek Riordan, two quality strikers, we'll be too strong for the Hibees. And then it's up to us to show we can finish them off, hopefully, with a bit of help from my cousin Calum Elliot.

"I've been absolutely delighted watching Calum come through the ranks. He's had a few games off the bench, but proven himself as a starter and to be settled in the first team squad at 19 is exceptional. Hopefully, he will be there for a few years to come and make the step-up to the Scotland squad.

"I'm hoping to watch tomorrow's game with a lot of adopted Hearts supporters in Leeds and with all due respect to Gretna and Dundee, we know that winning this game provides a great chance of winning the cup this year. Fingers crossed."
ALEX ARTHUR

European super-featherweight champion
Hibs supporter

"I'm really confident Hibs will win the match. It's going to be tight, but I think they will nick it 1-0 or 2-1. Hearts are under more pressure with everything that has happened at the club off the pitch this season. Although they have some experienced guys who can handle the situation, I'm not sure they can cope with the levels of expectation being put on them as a team.

"It's just a real pity that Hibs and Hearts were not kept apart in the semi-final draw. It would be have been a fantastic final, but Sunday will be a massive occasion for Edinburgh all the same. It's great for the city that they are hogging all the attention in Scottish football for a change. I'm desperate to see Hibs win the cup at last, although as an Edinburgh man it's good to know there is a great chance the trophy will be coming here no matter who wins on Sunday. "
CHRIS HOY

Olympic and Commonwealth cycling champion
Hearts supporter

"Sadly, I'm too busy training for the World Championships in Bordeaux in two weeks to be able to get to the game. It's a shame, especially as Hearts invited me along. I don't have Sky TV and I'm based in Manchester so can't imagine how I will be able to see the game, and will be busy in the velodrome anyway. I'll certainly keep my eye out for the result though.

"I haven't seen Hearts since a derby against Hibs in 2004. So I'm not what you could call a die-hard fan. I think the 1986 season was what made me feel cynical about life for the first time. How could they lose the league and the cup the same year?

"It has been difficult to track the team's progress recently, being based down here and then spending a lot of time in Australia ahead of the Commonwealth Games. When you get back from a big event you are always busy paying bills and what-not, but this time, with another major event so soon after, it has been worse than ever.

"But I will be back in Edinburgh around the time of the final. I'd love to be at Hampden if Hearts can make it, which I'm sure they will."
ANDY MURRAY

Great Britain’s No 1 tennis player
Hibs supporter

Andy Murray will be in Glasgow for the big match this week - the Davis Cup match against Serbia & Montenegro at Braehead Arena. But his preparations are bound to be distracted by events at Hampden tomorrow.

"I have always been a Hibs fan because my grandad Roy Erskine played for them. I was a member of the Hibs Kids Club from the age of five but in the first Hibs game I can remember going to, I asked to leave at half-time! Partly because I was frozen but mainly because they were losing. I hate losing at anything.

"There was a time when I preferred football, probably because most of my school pals were playing with me.

"There was a stage when I had to choose between tennis and football - and I chose tennis."
LLOYD SALTMAN

Europe’s No 1 amateur golfer
Hearts supporter

"I'm in Spain this week representing Scotland at the Sherry Cup and won't get home until after the semi-final. But I'll be keeping my ears open for news of what's happening at Hampden and phoning home for details.

"Both my mum and my girlfriend are Hibs fans, so it means a lot to me that Hearts win this one!

"My late grandfather, Tommy Younger, was a brilliant goalkeeper for Hibs, but my mum told me as a lad he supported Hearts, so we have more in common than some think. If Hearts do get to the final and my schedule allows, I'd love to see them lift the Scottish Cup.

"I think Hearts are slight favourites to win tomorrow because they have more experience than an exciting young Hibs side. If you drew a parallel with golf and I found myself playing a match against Colin Montgomerie, I guess most people would tip Monty to win. It's the same with this Edinburgh derby - experience counts for a lot."
KENNY ANDERSON

Commonwealth Games light-heavyweight gold medallist
Hibs supporter

"I'd love to be at Hampden on Sunday, but it's my oldest son Dean's fifth birthday party and I've got to be there after being away from the family for so long in Melbourne. Dean, my youngest son Jack and myself will all be wearing our Hibs jerseys, though, and keeping in touch with what's happening at the match.

"I really believe Hibs can do it this season and bring the cup back to Easter Road. I was keeping in touch with their results through the internet when I was in Australia and I know they haven't been in great form recently, but this is the kind of game which should inspire them to get back to their best. On their day, Hibs are the most exciting team in Scotland and if they get a wee rub of the green tomorrow, I can see them winning by a couple of goals. If they make it to the final, I'll definitely be there to cheer them on."
STEPHEN HENDRY

Former snooker world champion
Hearts supporter

"This has got to be the biggest Edinburgh derby game in living memory and it's vital for both sides, especially Hearts after everything that has gone on at Tynecastle. There will be people waiting for Hearts to trip up, just so they can say 'I told you so' but I believe they can come up trumps on the day. Unfortunately, due to a prior engagement I won't be at Hampden but obviously I will be hoping the team comes through in what will be another major test of character.

"Whoever gets to the final in May will have to start favourites and I am saying that will all due respect to the other semi-finalists Dundee and Gretna.

"This really is the final before the final, and for one set of supporters there will be the elation of winning the derby while for the losing team I imagine it will be four or five months before their fans can show their faces again. That's how bad it's going to feel for the losers on this occasion.

"I just feel that Hearts can edge it and for all that everyone talks about the foreign revolution which has taken place at Tynecastle, it's the Scots - such as skipper Steven Pressley - who continue to be the backbone of the side."
CHRIS SMALL

Former snooker player
Hibs supporter

"I've been following Hibs since I was seven years old when my dad, who is a real diehard, took me to my first game. One thing I know for certain is that I am going to be a nervous wreck, that's just the way I am when it comes to following Hibs.

"With my back problem which recently forced me to stop playing snooker, I cannot sit in these seats for the duration of a game, particularly in cold weather, so I will be watching the game at my friend Kevin's house.

"I'm disappointed the semi-final is not being staged at Murrayfield, I think that would have made a lot of sense."

Taken from the Scotsman