For the sake of their long-suffering supporters, one can only hope that there is an element of truth to the cliche that "the form book goes out the window" in derby matches.

FOR the sake of their long-suffering supporters, one can only hope that there is an element of truth to the cliche that "the form book goes out the window" in derby matches. Hibernian welcome Hearts to Easter Road tomorrow without a goal to their name from open play in their last three matches.

Across the city, the picture is even grimmer. Hearts have not scored at all for almost a month, the goal drought breaking through the seven-hour mark in the 1-0 loss to Motherwell in midweek. Edinburgh derbies were often seen as a cheaper alternative to sleeping pills during the 1980s due to the lack of goalmouth action, a scene replicated in last week's traditional New Year opener at Tynecastle, where both teams offered plenty of energy but little finesse when it came to finishing.

It will likely be no less frenetic in tomorrow's lunchtime kick-off in the fourth round of the Homecoming Scottish Cup but players from both sides hope there will at least be goals to warm the supporters on a chilly day in Leith.

"We don't need to do a lot different from last week but scoring goals is a vital part of winning games," Chris Hogg, the Hibernian defender, said. "So we'll be looking to score goals, keep a solid shape and really pass the ball better than we did on Saturday. We are really disappointed with how we passed it at certain points of the game last week. We need to get some decent service to our front players so they can do some damage.

"But I don't think last week's game has any real bearing on this one. You might as well wipe the slate clean as I think it will be a different game. In the league game with 10 minutes to go both sides probably thought we don't want to lose this' and the game petered out a bit. But I think tomorrow will be a different story as we will be going hammer and tongs at Hearts to try to get a goal and get the victory."

Hearts enjoyed the better of the chances in last week's encounter but created next to nothing in their meek capitulation at Fir Park on Wednesday night. It is that, rather than the lack of goals, that most troubles Michael Stewart, the Hearts midfielder. "Of course, it is a concern not to be scoring goals, but Motherwell was the first game where we had not created chances. If we had gone four games without any goals and no chances created, it would be a serious concern. So we want to look at it as an isolated incident.

"You can have all the pressure and play good football, but if you don't score goals it puts a lot of pressure on the rest of the team to try to make sure you are not giving anything away. Was that a wake-up call? Maybe. But tomorrow's game is a great opportunity to rectify the wrongs that happened at Motherwell. We have had the opportunity to step back and take stock on what needs to be done."

If Stewart had his way, though, tomorrow's derby match would not be taking place at all, with the former Hibernian midfielder pushing the case for summer football.

"The Motherwell match is maybe a great argument as to why we should not be playing football at this time of the year. Pitches are terrible and who really wants to come out and watch a game of football on a cold Wednesday night in January when the standard of the football is so poor? It's difficult for players to try to play football of quality when conditions are not conducive to it.

"Unfortunately when it is like that, it becomes a kick-and-rush and a battle. It's not enjoyable to play in and I'm pretty sure it's not enjoyable to watch. Something needs to be looked at. Over the piece, you will see a lot better games in the summer rather than at this time of the year. When it gets to this stage of the year, teams who would generally try to play some football just can't. It then digresses into s***e football."

The standard of play tomorrow will matter little to either side, however, if they can progress to the next round at the expense of their rivals. It has become almost obligatory to mention Hibs' woeful cup record at this time of year but Hogg will not contemplate the prospect of lifting the trophy for the first time since 1902 this stage early in the competition.

"I don't believe in hoodoos or things like that. We just need a decent performance to get through to the next round. After that we can talk about the next game. If we start listening to people saying we have to win the cup then it's not going to be good for the team. If you start looking too far ahead maybe that's when you will struggle.

"We know Sunday will be a tough test. It's always a big occasion, the derby game, and the fans are always up for it and generate a good atmosphere. At Tynecastle last week, it gave their players a lift. Hopefully, our fans get behind us and give us that belief that we can go on and put in a good performance."