KEEPER Zibi Malkowski has warned this season will be meaningless for Hibs if they don't lift the Scottish Cup.

The Pole reckons the team must deliver silverware and clinch a place in Europe if they are to say they have built on the success of last year when they finished third in the SPL.

Hopes of earning another UEFA Cup adventure next season are likely to depend on winning the cup with Celtic, Hearts and Rangers leading the chase for Euro places in the league.

So Zibi reckons it's more crucial than ever they get past their city rivals in today's semi to make sure they look back on this season as evidence of further progress under Tony Mowbray. He said: "Our only hope of playing in the UEFA Cup again next season is if we can win the Scottish Cup or finish third in the Premier League.

"If we do either we can say it has been a great season but if we do not we will have nothing from this year and face playing next season only in the domestic league.

"Playing in the UEFA Cup against Dnipro was a great experience for the team and different to anything else Hibs played this season. A lot of the Dnipro players were internationals and we had to adapt to a different style to suit European football.

"We learned a lot and it's important we get back into Europe again to have the chance to use those lessons.

"We are going to Glasgow to win. If you win you are maybe 80 or 90 per cent favourites to lift the cup and get that place in Europe."

Taken from the Sunday Mail