Friday 20 May 2016 09:14, UK
Hibernian boss Alan Stubbs is hoping the experience of the League Cup final defeat to Ross County will benefit his players in Saturday's Scottish Cup final, live on Sky Sports.
Hibs will be looking to end the season on a high at Hampden against Championship winners Rangers after losing 2-1 to County at the same ground in March and then missing out on a place in the Premiership through the play-offs.
And former Celtic defender Stubbs believes his players may use those setbacks to spur them on against their newly promoted rivals, whom they have beaten twice in the league this season.
Speaking to Sky Sports News HQ the Englishman said: "I think it can certainly help. We performed well in the final and it was unfortunate in the end the way it worked out.
"But I think on Saturday it's got the makings of a great game. Two teams that will look to try and play, and if you are going by results this season it certainly looks like there will be goals in the game.
"I think in the league when you look at it we are sitting at two apiece, they've been close games all of those four games, and I don't see Saturday being too dissimilar. Two very good football teams and I think it's got the makings of a fantastic game."
Hibernian endured another late heartache last week when they were beaten in the play-off semi-final against Falkirk.
Stubbs has had a week to lift his players, but he believes the occasion will help as Hibs look to win the competition for the first time since 1902, a statistic they are reminded of every season.
"Just telling them about the game on Saturday, I think if anyone needs lifting then you only have to look at this game," Stubbs said.
"To play in a Scottish Cup final, a lot of these players would have dreamt of that since they were boys and it will be the same on the Rangers team, and on Saturday they get to fulfil a dream and they just need to finish it off and be the one that's lifting the cup.
"With the length of the wait everybody is always talking about it, it's always a talking point. Every year the tournament comes round we're reminded of it, and on Saturday we have an opportunity to end that wait and that's what we'll be trying our hardest to do.
"In the games that we've won against Rangers we've played two different formations, we've played with four at the back and we've played with three at the back, so we'll decide a little bit closer to the game what we end up going with, but whatever team goes out on Saturday will be one that is capable of getting a result.
"We're certainly disappointed, there's no point hiding that fact, but on Saturday we have another opportunity to create a bit of history, and all out focus and attention is purely on Saturday and trying to get a result and trying to give them something that some of them have waited an awful long time for."
