GRAHAM Rix may be watching from the Hampden sidelines today, on duty as a Sky TV pundit rather than as the Hearts head coach, but while he won't venture into the technical area, his successor in the hotseat has said he is more than welcome in the dressing room.

Valdas Ivanauskas was given the job of preparing the Hearts players for the semi-final when Rix was ousted from his post 12 days ago and he says that his one-time colleague would be more than welcome to pop in to see his former charges, should he so desire.

"It would be no problem. I had a very, very good rapport with Graham," said the Lithuanian, who added that his new responsibilities had afforded him no time to speak to Rix since his departure, but insisted he would like to catch up. "I will call him when I get some time, but it has been two difficult weeks. I was very, very upset for Graham and if he wants to come and see the players then I think that it would be no problem."

Ivanauskas's hope is that, should Rix venture into the dressing room post match, it will be to offer congratulations but says that he is taking nothing for granted.

"This is a new situation for the players and it is good for the club. This is our big chance to make this a big season."

The last time Ivanauskas was at the national stadium, was with the Lithuanian national side as Berti Vogts's Scotland beat them 1-0.

"It's a nice stadium, nice atmosphere - a big atmosphere." And now he wants a big performance so that this time he can taste victory. But against a Hibs team that has impressed him throughout this campaign, he knows the outcome is no foregone conclusion.

"We know all about Hibs. We know that they have won big games against Rangers, even before in this cup, and we have big respect for Hibs and for Tony Mowbray - he's doing very well - so we know about Hibs. We are trying to make Hearts a big club and every time you try a new approach that is good for the players and the club."

The recent upheaval was considered far from ideal in terms of cup build-up but having won last week against Falkirk, Ivanauskas believes his players have taken the managerial manoeuvrings in their stride.

"For the young players maybe [it is a problem]. It has been a big change but we have many, many experienced players so this is not big news. The players know about this kind of situation. They know we have a big chance but this is not the end."

If the off-field shenanigans have unsettled some, the signing of goalkeeper Craig Gordon on an extended deal has been held up as tangible proof that others are unperturbed and Gordon's latest manager is glowing in his praise of the 22-year-old, insisting he is the best he has ever seen at that age.

"I like Craig. When he is playing, although he is so young, he is so calm and so relaxed and this is good.

"A keeper is a very important position in your football team. I don't know how many points he has saved us, but when a keeper is good then the defenders are also calm because, if they make one mistake, then they know that behind them they have a good keeper. I honestly don't know how many points it is that Craig has saved us, but I know we have a very good keeper.

"He is the best keeper in Scotland and one of the best in Europe and he has a big, big future. He can go all the way and could play in any league, in any country."

An integral player the last time these Edinburgh rivals met, it's as well for Hearts that Gordon has chosen to stay and play in this one.

Taken from the Scotsman