YOUNG defender Paul Ritchie gave Hearts a pre-cup final boost yesterday by pledging his future to the club for another two years.

Speaking at Tynecastle yesterday, the Scotland B internationalist admitted that the uncertainty over his future had been preying on his mind and had affected some of his recent league performances. Although Ritchie said there had been no official approach from English clubs, it is believed both Newcastle United and Aston Villa had been monitoring his situation.

The 22-year-old said that, with the new two-year contract now agreed, he was focused on tomorrow's cup final, in which he was confident the club would exorcise the ghosts of their last Scottish Cup final encounter with Rangers in 1996, when they were beaten 5-1. That day, Ritchie ended the game in tears and admitted that the Ibrox club had, ''demolished them.''

Although confident of a Hearts victory this time round, Ritchie said that it seemed that the script for tomorrow had been specially written for one, Ally McCoist. ''It's Ally's last game for Rangers and anything could happen,'' said Ritchie.

''If he features in any part of the game, we will have to keep a special eye on him, because throughout his career he has had scenarios like this one and he has always produced the goods. Although Ally will be a threat, it comes down to how we will play on the day.

''Against Rangers, apart from the 2-2 draw at Ibrox, we have been very disappointing. In previous games, we haven't had the tactics right, never performed, never got stuck in and Saturday will be an ideal time to get our first victory over them.''

Ritchie, who is due to be married a week after the final, said he believed winning the Scottish Cup would be the stepping stone for the club to take what was their ultimate goal, the league flag. He had agreed to sign a new two-year-deal, which was a year or two less than the club had hoped for, because he believed the current Hearts squad would go from strength to strength.

''Next season, we have to show we are good enough to compete with the Old Firm. We go into Europe next year, which will be great for the club.

''From a personal point of view, the European Championship qualifications are coming up next year, so hopefully, if I can perform as well as I have done this season, I will be able to give Craig Brown some food for thought.''

Ritchie said that, despite the fact he had signed a two-year deal, he would still have to fight to win a place in the Hearts starting line-up with his manager expected to bring in a number of new players in the close season. One of them, full-back Rab McKinnon, will be signed from Dutch outfit Twente Enschede and will be at the final to cheer on his new club.

He expected Hearts to be challenging the Old Firm next season, despite their limited spending power. ''Jim will never be able to match the cash the Old Firm have to spend, but he has the knack of finding quality players and will be looking to strengthen the squad,'' said Ritchie.

Looking back to the 1996 final, Ritchie admitted he had been completely devastated by the demolition job carried out on them by Rangers. ''Everything went right for them that day,'' he said.

''Big Gilles (Rousset), our goalie, made a mistake, Gary Locke got carried off, and Laudrup and Durie ran riot. Hopefully there won't be a repeat of that.

''What I have learned since that cup final is that, come Saturday afternoon, you have to be up for the game and you can't let the experience pass you by.''

Manager Jim Jefferies said yesterday that he was delighted to sign up Ritchie, who had formed a formidable partnership with David Weir, in the centre of the Hearts defence.

Team-wise, it looks like Steve Fulton is the leading contender to lead Hearts in the final if, as expected, club captain Gary Locke is ruled out injured. The only other contender for the captaincy is former Rangers and Scotland defender Dave McPherson.

Jefferies said that, apart from the concern over Locke, he had an otherwise full-strength squad to choose from.

Fulton added yesterday that it would be an honour to lead out Hearts if he is given the captain's armband in a game that he predicted would make the players involved become ''living legends'' amongst the fans should the team win.

qStensaas aims for silver lining as Jefferies looks

to prove Smith right

- Page 47