Michael Weir: Cup derby will be strange without fans but Hibs can do the business

It’s a big week for everybody, and I’m really looking forward to Saturday’s cup derby.

Lewis Stevenson vies for the ball with Connor Washington during the last meeting between the rivals

The semi-final is all everyone’s been talking about for a while now even though it’s one of those games where you don’t know what the outcome is going to be.

It doesn’t matter if it’s the Scottish Cup or the league or a friendly, it’s still an Edinburgh derby at the end of the day.

It needs to be treated as a one-off game and whoever turns up on the day is the team that’s going to go through.

It’s the game everyone wants to win. If you win the derby then for the next couple of weeks you’re riding high.

The pressure is on and it’s the same for Hearts. They will want to step up on the day and win the game.

For the team that wins, it means you can walk around Edinburgh and know that you’re not going to get abuse from people.

Normally you get either get it from your own fans or the opposition supporters win, lose, or draw.

I still miss playing in derbies

Having played in an Edinburgh derby it is the best fixture, no doubt. If you struggle to enjoy a derby then I think you’re in the wrong game, and that goes for players on both sides.

The derby is the one that everyone looks forward to. It is an event that I don’t think you can’t adequately describe unless you’ve been involved in it.

It’s unique and such a great feature of the Scottish football calendar. I just wish I was still able to play in them, and I reckon anyone who’s taken part in one will feel the same.

Those were the games I loved playing in.

Heartbreaking for locked-out fans

It will be strange without fans at Hampden. I’d be telling a lie if I said they don’t make a difference because supporters can bring so much to the derby.

We’ve seen over the past few weeks with some of the results in England and up here in Scotland that without supporters it's very difficult.

Fans bring so much to the table, and the biggest part they play is creating the atmosphere.

There’s nothing better than walking down the tunnel and the atmosphere hitting you right away.

I feel sorry for the players and supporters because it’s such a great game to be involved in and for the fans to miss out is heartbreaking.

Tricky tie

Hibs will be going in to this tie with confidence, especially with the good run they’re on, but having watched Hearts’ last two games, they’ve got a real threat and they’re a decent side; a completely different team to the one I watched six or seven months ago.

It’s not a revenge mission for the last derby because every derby is an event on its own.

The one thing Hibs do have on their side is experience. Boys like Paul Hanlon are vital to these games because they’ve played in them before, and this Hearts side doesn’t have a great deal of experience in this type of game.

The Scottish Cup is a big carrot and knocking your neighbours out is a big reward.

If Hibs perform on the day I think they will win the game but Hearts will relish the chance to prove their Premiership credentials.