Stephen Kingsley has faced Hibs in a Scottish Cup semi-final before, but he doesn’t like to talk about it.
The then 18-year-old was part of Gary Holt’s Falkirk side that took on the Hibees for a place in the 2013 Scottish Cup final.
The first half went like a dream as the Bairns raced into a 3-0 lead before the break with HIbs fans streaming for the exits.
The game quickly turned into a nightmare however, as Pat Fenlon’s men fought back through Alex Harris, Leigh Griffiths and Eoin Doyle to force extra-time before Griffiths won it.
Now Kingsley is heading back with Hearts, the dynamic is similar in that he’s going with a Championship side, but the fact that it’s an Edinburgh derby means everything else is different.
"That was the last game at Hampden,” he said. “We were 3-0 up at half-time and then... I'm not going to say the rest.
"I’m just looking forward to getting back there and hopefully this time we will put it right.
"When you ask me the question it does now," when asked if Falkirk’s collapse was still on his mind. “It's more the anticipation for the Edinburgh derby more than anything.
"Knowing the occasion is a Scottish Cup semi final I think will outweigh everything else, also different circumstances playing with a different team.”
The build up to what under normal circumstances would have the capital buzzing is a strange one, given there will be no fans inside the national stadium, and the maroon side of the city aren’t exactly enamoured with the Scottish FA after what happened over the summer.
And Kingsley admitted the game has sort of snuck upon him.
“I didn’t know it was going to be so soon," he explained.. “I know we had a game that was meaning to be played. I didn’t know what was going on with it.
"It was when I came in I found out that we were playing Hibs in the Scottish Cup semi final and thought it was a nice little bonus coming into it, the first few weeks of being in here.”
“It would be absolutely amazing to have the fans. I mean Edinburgh derby, my first derby, would have absolutely loved that.
"I don't think it will be hard to get ourselves up and ready for it. The occasion will build up during the week and the boys will be ready for it.”
After a stunning league debut in which Kinglsey netted twice as Hearts blew Dundee away 6-2 at Tynecastle, the 26-year-old had to do the other side in Friday’s 1-0 win over Arbroath.
On Saturday, he’ll likely be in direct opposition to Martin Boyle should Jack Ross play him wide right.
But Kingsley is determined to get the Australian international going the other way down the pitch and isn’t planning on merely containing the wide man.
“You have to adjust your game a little bit in terms of your defensive responsibilities but I'm not going to change the way I play," he said.
"We as a team want to get the ball and try to control the game and I want to go and attack and be involved, be creative in the final third.
"He obviously has his qualities going forward. I’ll just need to make sure me and everybody else is ready for it.”
