Great Scots On The Cup Final!

Tomorrow's Scottish Cup Final between Hibernian and Hearts may be taking place at Hampden Park North of the Border.

But there is plenty of Wolves interest attached to the game.

Loan players Matt Doherty and Leigh Griffiths are set to feature for Hibs as they aim to sign off their temporary spells at Easter Road, while there will also be some keen Wolves observers elsewhere.

Steven Fletcher of course began his career with Hibernian, and notched twice when they won their last major silverware, the 2007 League Cup Final against Kilmarnock.

Christophe Berra meanwhile was an unused substitute when Hearts last won the Scottish Cup in 2006, while Eggert Jonsson arrived at Wolves in January after five-and-a-half years as a player at Tynecastle.

We caught up with Fletcher and Berra ahead of the game to assess their thoughts!

*First of all gents, what are your memories of those cup finals past?!

CB: I was part of the squad and ended up being an unused substitute but it was still one of the best memories of my football career, especially the celebrations after! Going around Edinburgh on the bus and seeing how many fans were there was unbelievable. I look back and think of it as one of the best days of my life. If we'd lost I can't begin to imagine what it would have been like!

SF: The day when we won the League Cup with Hibs was one of the best of my football career so far. I remember we had a fairly young side and just seemed to go out that day and play without any fear. I'm not really sure what people expected but it just felt like the right day for us and felt like we were going to win. It was a great feeling to lift the trophy. Being at Hibs at such a young age we weren't expected to win trophies and to do so at such an early stage of my career was fantastic.

*And your thoughts on your time at the clubs?

CB: I really enjoyed it at Hearts. They were a great club for me and I owe a lot to them for making me the player I am. I played in a lot of derby games and coming from Edinburgh I've got friends who support both sides. And my Mum and Dad's house is only five minutes from Easter Road to be fair! I used to be captain and people recognise you walking about. If you got beat you didn't want to be going out for the next few days afterwards and usually kept your head low. Whoever does lose on Saturday I am sure they will be straight off on their holidays and trying to forget about it because you don't want to be walking around getting stick off the opposition fans.

SF: Hibs gave me my football grounding. I decided to move from Glasgow to Edinburgh as a 16-year-old and it was a big decision but Hibs did everything for me. They gave me my debut when I was 17 which was nice. I always cheer them on and every time they play I am watching their scores.

*Your memories of derby games from back in the day?

CB: It's a massive game. The build-up was always in the papers for days and there was a buzz around the city. You see all the fans when you get to the ground on the coaches and the atmosphere is always good.

SF: Yeh the build-up to the games is always massive. Edinburgh is a big city packed full of football fans and the rivalry is intense! It was always good to play in the game, especially away from home with how packed it is and tight to the pitch. I've got 50-50 memories of the game with a few wins and a few losses. It was good to score in a couple of games as well!

Christophe Berra

*And there was one game when a certain someone got sent off?

CB: Ha ha, yeh I remember a big game in the cup at Easter Road when Fletch got a red card. He dived in, I tried to avoid the tackle, but you can't dive in like that these days! I think he got sent off in another game against me as well, maybe a youth game. The cup one was live on television and I remember Hibs' manager Mixu Paatelainen saying I leapt like a salmon so I did get some abuse!

SF: I got sent off twice because of Berra! I blame him for those, especially the one when he dived! It was a tackle I went for at Easter Road and then he went down. I had a few good battles with Christophe down the years so it's nice to be on the same side now!

*So no hard feelings?!

SF: Not at all! I'd seen him when we played for Scotland together and it was always fine. But if Hibs do win tomorrow he'll be getting a few pelters off me don't you worry!

CB: Fletch was always one of Hibs' top players and everyone has seen how good he is by what he has done in the Premier League. I'd played against him many times but didn't really know him until he came here and it's good that we're on the same side now. He's a good team-mate and a good lad and I'd rather have him in the team than not!

Steven Fletcher Lionel Messi

*What then of the game tomorrow?

CB: Hearts have been the stronger team in the league and have done the double over Hibs which might just play on the players' minds. But I believe it's going to be a clean slate as it's a cup final and a derby game as well. Players will go out and run that extra yard because it is such a big game and so I don't think you can find a favourite. Hearts are maybe the more experienced side with older players but Hibs look like they've got a bit of form and are going to be dangerous because they can score goals. It's also been so long since Hibs won it so they will want to get that monkey off their back. The rivalry adds extra to it but it's big enough anyway - it's like the FA Cup Final down here - and I am sure there will be a fine margin between who wins and loses.

SF: Hibs haven't had the best of seasons in the league but in the cup competitions it's anyone's game and they have done really well to get to the final. And hopefully they are hitting form at just the right time. I saw the game against Dunfermline on the telly recently and they were 3-0 up after 15 minutes. They've got a young side like we did in the League Cup Final and the adrenalin will certainly help get them going on the day. Winning would be fantastic in any situation but to do it against Hearts would be an extra bonus!

*It's fair to say we'll know who you are both supporting. Will you be at the game?

CB: I can't make it unfortunately. My fiancée is pregnant and I promised we'd go away for a few days before meeting up with the Scotland squad. I'll certainly be finding somewhere to watch the game and hopefully Hearts will do the business.

SF: Yes I'm hopefully going to get to the game with a few of my mates. It will be a bit frustrating watching because when you're at a cup final you want to be playing in it rather than watching. But hopefully it will be a good day!