Final say after KO SECOND BITE

Kevin Nisbet is thrilled to be on the brink of a Scottish Cup Final spot – almost a year after being knocked out the tourney.

The Hibs hitman, set to face derby rivals Hearts in Saturday’s semi, was with Dunfermline when they lost to Stranraer last November.

He moved to Easter Road in the summer and a rule change means he isn’t cuptied for the last four crunch with Jambos.

Nisbet, who warmed up for Hampden with a goal in yesterday’s win over Killie, said: “Stranraer put us out at Dunfermline last season.

“That result came out of the blue because we started the season really well.

“That’s what the Scottish Cup does, it brings a lot of shocks and unfortunately we were on the wrong end of that.

“But when the rule came out that said I could play, I was delighted.

“To go straight into a semi-final and a derby, you can’t really get much better

Nisbet than that. It wasn’t great coming off the pitch that day at Stair Park.

“There were a lot of strong words in the dressing room afterwards.

“In those moments of disappointment, you just strive to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

“As a player you never want that feeling. I hope I don’t get it again.

“I don’t really want to think about losing this one, if I’m honest.

“It’s a derby and we want to be the ones going out, imposing ourselves on the game and winning it.”

Nisbet was with Hibs as a kid and added: “I played a few derbies at Under-15 and Under-16 level.

“They were really feisty encounters. It doesn’t matter if you are 14 or 15, you see the passion there.

“That goes right up to the first-team, hopefully it will be a good game.

“A derby’s a derby. It is going to be fiery and feisty.

“There will be a lot of challenges going in and a lot of passion. Whoever wants it more will win.”