THERE is something in the psyche of the average footballer that seems to revel in getting abused in a way that would leave the rest of us greetin' like a big Jessie.

Mark Oxley, the strawberry blonde Hibernain goalkeeper, is one of them, as he looks forward to another afternoon of banter at Tynecastle. The Englishman will make the short trip across the capital for the second time in the space of eight days tomorrow when the Easter Road side take on Hearts in the William Hill Scottish Cup fifth round.

Oxley was in Gorgie last week as the iconic ground's stands were bathed in green and white as a bumper Hibs support watched their team edge out St Johnstone to make it into the League Cup final. The roles have been reversed for this encounter however, and the 25-year-old is relishing the prospect of silencing those who will attempt to put him off his game tomorrow afternoon.

"I like the fans being so close to be honest, it’s part and parcel of football," he explained. "At some of the new grounds these days you are miles away from the fans and it’s not the same atmosphere and, with it being a derby, there will be that extra spice.

"You hear everything, you get pelters every week, but it doesn’t bother me! You’ve got to enjoy that and embrace it. You get the usual shouts every week - ‘ginger’ and all that! But you take it with a pinch of salt.

"It was great last week, the fans turned out in their numbers and were right behind us. It was like a home game. I think anyone at that ground knows it is a good atmosphere, but even more so on Sunday.

"Hendo [Liam Henderson] nearly got a Bovril thrown over him last week! But you’re not going to get any trouble at a big game like that these days. "Games like this are what you want at this stage of the season."

The anticipation for this game is understandable given both teams were accustomed to regular meeting in last season's Ladbrokes Championship before Hearts' eventual promotion.

This tie tomorrow lunchtime offers the old foes a chance to gauge just how far apart the pair are on footballing terms since they are now a league apart. It is a test Alan Stubbs, the Hibs manager, is intrigued by.

“I think both teams are stronger than last season," he said. “Hearts have got stronger and they are having a really good season.

“We have got stronger and it is two teams going into a derby in really good form. If I wanted to be selfish I think they would be slight favourites because they have home advantage.

“If we were playing them at Easter Road I would class us as favourites for the same reason. So I am really looking forward to the game. It has the makings of a fantastic tie."