St Johnstone’s Alan Maybury is hoping to break some Hearts at his former Tynecastle stamping ground.
Saints travel to the capital to face the Jam Tarts in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup with the form book and history firmly against them.
Jim Jefferies’ side have won 10 out of their last 12 league games, while St Johnstone have failed to beat Hearts in their previous six meetings in the cup.
However, the Republic of Ireland internationalist, who has also played for Leeds, Leicester and Aberdeen during his long career, believes Saints are capable of causing an upset at the club where he spent nearly four years.
“I am looking forward to going back to Tynecastle,” said Maybury. “They have really built up a head of steam so they will make it difficult for us. But it’s a break from the SPL and we will go there and play with no fear.
“They are doing really well. Jim Jefferies has got them organised and going again after a few years of being up and down. They will be keen to hang in there with the Old Firm in the league, but this is the cup and we are on a decent run of form of our own so we will go there with confidence.
“I have not been at Tynecastle for quite a while. When we played them in November at McDiarmid, that was the first time I’d faced them since leaving the club.
“I joined Aberdeen the game after they played Hearts and it was the same here at the start of the season with St Johnstone. I was on the bench at Tynecastle when Aberdeen played Dundee United in a cup semi-final. That was the last time I played there.”
Maybury added, “I am sure nothing much will have changed-it’s a fine ground with a great atmosphere. I really enjoyed playing there for Hearts and it will be good going back with St Johnstone.”
Maybury admitted he has enjoyed mixed fortunes in cup competitions with the only time he has lifted silverware being when he was just starting out in his career with Leeds United.
“My cup record is generally poor,” he smiled. “At Aberdeen, we made it to the Scottish Cup semi-final but were beaten by Queen of the South. That was my last cup game up here.
“When I was at Leicester, we made it to the cup quarter-finals and beat a couple of premiership sides along the way, but in Scotland, I’ve been in losing teams against Inverness and Falkirk when they were in the division below so I am happy to be playing an SPL side on Sunday.
“I have not actually won anything since the FA Youth Cup with Leeds when we beat Crystal Palace in the final so I am long overdue for some success.”Hoping for starting berthMaybury is keeping his fingers crossed he will win the nod to start tomorrow by boss Derek McInnes and hopefully in a position that he is used to.
Last weekend, the full-back and occasional central midfielder came on to replace the injured Steven Anderson at centre-back.
“Before I signed for Saints, the manager talked to me about playing several positions,” he added. “I have had to learn some as I have gone along.
“But I will do my best wherever I am asked to play. I covered for Ando when he was injured against Inverness but I’m not sure I am big enough to be a centre-half.
“But I worked round it with Michael Duberry alongside me and I was delighted to get a clean sheet. Maybe I should try for a game further forward because strikers pick up more money,” he joked.
McInnes admits his side face a huge test in Edinburgh but he believes it is a challenge his players are capable of rising to.
“It is one to be excited about,” McInnes said. “It will be tough in terms of getting a result there as Hearts are the form team in the country at the moment and are absolutely flying.
“They have a lot of good players, some of which are not even playing just now which shows the strength in depth of their squad. Jim (Jefferies) has been able to put out a fairly settled team of late and it is working out well for him.
“It will be a big ask for us to go there and get a result but we have a decent record at Tynecastle in the last couple of seasons.
“We are all relishing going there and will look to put on the sort of performance we are capable of.”
Hearts have injury concerns about Ian Black, Darren Barr, Stephen Elliott and Gary Glen.
All four are doubtful, while uncertainty remains over whether goalkeeper Marian Kello (back) and Rudi Skacel (calf) will be fit to play.
Scotland international Lee Wallace could make his first appearance since a knee injury after being an unused substitute in the last two games, but Andrew Driver (thigh) and Suso Santana (knee) remain out.Hoping for starting berthMaybury is keeping his fingers crossed he will win the nod to start tomorrow by boss Derek McInnes and hopefully in a position that he is used to.
Last weekend, the full-back and occasional central midfielder came on to replace the injured Steven Anderson at centre-back.
“Before I signed for Saints, the manager talked to me about playing several positions,” he added. “I have had to learn some as I have gone along.
“But I will do my best wherever I am asked to play. I covered for Ando when he was injured against Inverness but I’m not sure I am big enough to be a centre-half.
“But I worked round it with Michael Duberry alongside me and I was delighted to get a clean sheet. Maybe I should try for a game further forward because strikers pick up more money,” he joked.
McInnes admits his side face a huge test in Edinburgh but he believes it is a challenge his players are capable of rising to.
“It is one to be excited about,” McInnes said. “It will be tough in terms of getting a result there as Hearts are the form team in the country at the moment and are absolutely flying.
“They have a lot of good players, some of which are not even playing just now which shows the strength in depth of their squad. Jim (Jefferies) has been able to put out a fairly settled team of late and it is working out well for him.
“It will be a big ask for us to go there and get a result but we have a decent record at Tynecastle in the last couple of seasons.
“We are all relishing going there and will look to put on the sort of performance we are capable of.”
Hearts have injury concerns about Ian Black, Darren Barr, Stephen Elliott and Gary Glen.
All four are doubtful, while uncertainty remains over whether goalkeeper Marian Kello (back) and Rudi Skacel (calf) will be fit to play.
Scotland international Lee Wallace could make his first appearance since a knee injury after being an unused substitute in the last two games, but Andrew Driver (thigh) and Suso Santana (knee) remain out.