Hibs urged to become legends

Keith Wright has urged Hibernian to transform themselves from losers to "legends" by triumphing in the Scottish Cup final on Saturday.

The Easter Road club have endured a Scottish Premier League season to forget after being forced to wait until the penultimate game of the campaign to ensure their top-flight survival.

However, Pat Fenlon's men could write their names into the history books for all the right reasons if they end a 110-year wait for the Scottish Cup by overcoming Edinburgh rivals Hearts at Hampden.

Former Hibs striker Wright said: "The team has taken stick earlier in the season, they have been fighting relegation - and they could end the season as absolute legends.

"Every Hibs fan will be able to remember this team until the day they die. That's how much it means to the fans.

"Everything that has happened before will be forgotten about because this will be the team that won Hibs the Scottish Cup.

"I don't know if some of the players will realise that, for the rest of their lives, if they ever come back to Edinburgh, they will be absolute legends.

"They will not have to put their hand in their pocket for a drink in Edinburgh for the rest of their lives.

"It just means so much to so many people. A lot of decent teams have tried and failed."

Wright spent six years at Easter Road in the 1990s, making almost 200 appearances, and winning the League Cup.

But, like so many before him and since then, he was not able to claim the famous old trophy.

He said: "It's always on Hibs' players' minds.

"In the six years that I was there, every time the Scottish Cup was drawn, I hoped it would be my year and that we could do it.

"The fans are desperate. These guys have now got a chance and, especially with it being against their old rivals, what an opportunity to win the cup and put one over on them.

"It will be the biggest derby ever in the history of the two clubs. There will never be anything like this again."

Wright believes winning their relegation battle - a 4-0 win over Dunfermline sent the Pars back to the First Division - is a major positive for Hibs ahead of such a crucial game.

He said: "It was always a worry in the last part of the season.

"They couldn't really concentrate on the cup until after the Dunfermline game.

"It's a massive plus that they will still be in the SPL next year and all the focus is on the cup now and how they are going to beat Hearts."

Hearts head into the clash undefeated in the last 10 meetings between the two clubs and, according to Wright, will be shouldering the burden of expectation this weekend as a result of that record.

He said: "Hibs players can go into the game a bit more relaxed as Hearts are favourites.

"Everyone is expecting Hearts to win the cup. There will be more pressure on Hearts.

"There will be an amazing atmosphere when the teams walk out just before 3pm and it will be the team who handles it the most who will win the game."