Pressley's return makes game special, says Laszlo

Christophe Berra's transfer to Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend created a defensive void which Csaba Laszlo, the Hearts coach, intended to fill with the Slovakian Pavol Farkas. However a registration blunder has ensured he remains with Artmedia Bratislava for now.

Pressley, who helped Berra take his initial steps at first-team level with Hearts, is now 35, but is likely to relish the opportunity to put his former club out of the Homecoming Scottish Cup following the loss of their captain.

Laszlo said: "It's an interesting game. Pressley was a fantastic captain for Hearts, a cup winner, and now he comes back.

"His attitude at 35 is great. But it's not easy to play against your team before. I think it's a special game for him, but also a special game for us. We have the chance to make the next round and any success is important."

Laszlo has challenged his players to consign the departure of Berra to history by progressing further in the cup.

Hearts failed to cope in his absence as they lost their Premier League game at Hamilton last weekend, going down 2-0 at New Douglas Park.

Icelander Eggert Jonsson deputised at centre-half for Berra, but Christos Karipidis could be moved back from his midfield berth for the fifth-round tie this afternoon.

Either way, Laszlo hopes Berra can now be forgotten to direct full attention on the Bairns match, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.

Laszlo, hopeful of bringing Hungarian goalkeeper Janos Balogh back into his starting line-up after a neck injury, said: "I was unhappy with the goals at Hamilton, losing them from standard situations.

"I think the game was very difficult for us, with a lot of people talking about Christophe Berra.

"He was a very good captain, a very good person, but we didn't lose the game because he was not on the field. You can't search for excuses. We had 11 players. You must be a man and push from the front.

"Christophe is gone, we wish him all the best and hope he has a good career. But it's finished, he's an ex-Hearts player. If everything comes together, we can still be a good team. We must try with what we have."

Burton O'Brien insists Falkirk will go into the match full of confidence despite their lowly league position.

John Hughes' side currently lie second bottom of the Premier League, and although they now enjoy a four-point cushion over Inverness Caledonian Thistle, they face a fight to stave off relegation this season.

However, last weekend's 1-0 win over high-flying Aberdeen helped to boost morale and ensure the Westfield outfit head for Tynecastle in the firm belief they can reach the Scottish Cup quarter-finals. Honours are even in the league this term, with both teams having earned a 2-1 win, and midfielder O'Brien expects another tight affair in the capital.

He said: "It was obviously a great win for us last week, so the morale and the confidence is going to be high. That was a bonus for this game against Hearts and I definitely think we've got a chance. We've already beaten them this season, and when they beat us at Tynecastle the game was tight. It is going to be a close game again but we'll be going there in confident mood.

"If anything, the fact that this game is in the cup maybe takes a wee bit of pressure off us, because we're sitting second bottom in the league.

"But with getting the win last weekend, the morale is a bit higher and we'll go there a lot more confident."

Hughes has warned his Falkirk team they will have to ensure they are resolute and mentally switched on for the tie, with the Hearts fans sure to create an intimidating atmosphere for the visitors.

However, O'Brien rates the Gorgie ground as one of the best to play at in the SPL because of the intimacy of the stands and the cauldron of noise which filters down to the players on the pitch. The former Livingston, Blackburn and Sheffield Wednesday player is relishing a return to the venue and is hopeful of helping the Bairns into the quarter-final draw.

He added: "For me, it's better the way the crowd is right on top of you at Tynecastle. It's one of the stadiums you look forward to playing in. Nine times out of ten, it is a full house and I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully, we can get through and go on a wee cup run."

Falkirk will be without Kevin McBride after scans revealed the midfielder had sustained a hairline fracture in his back.

Gerard Aafjes has a knee injury and Tam Scobbie a groin problem.

Hearts midfielder Laryea Kingston is set to miss the tie due to his troublesome hamstring injury, and he may even be allowed to return to doctors in Ghana to solve the problem.

Ruben Palazuelos has returned to training after a knee injury but the fifth-round tie may be too soon for him.

Taken from the Scotsman