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We've avoided Hearts again. Which is a peculiar thing. Both clubs make it to Hampden regularly, more regularly than most in Scottish football. Yet, in the two cup competitions, throughout all the years, we've only ever played two semi-finals against each other and one final. In the last 16 years, there has been seven occasions where Aberdeen and Hearts have both been in the semi-final draw together and have avoided each other each time; four in the League Cup and three times in the Scottish Cup. And of course, they've not met in a final in any of those years - the closest being 2014 when Aberdeen made the LC final, but Hearts - despite playing in Edinburgh against nine-man Inverness - lost on penalties. On the contrary, this will be the fifth Aberdeen-Hibs semi-final I'll have been at. The others being 93, 00, 12 and 17. Won three and lost one. Two of those years, Hearts were also in the semis. The chances of an Aberdeen v Hearts final this year? Well, incredibly, in their near 150 year history, Hearts have never beaten Rangers at Hampden.

Outrageous suggestion. Someone get the Hibs v Aberdeen thread started so we can begin discussing the late kick-off, how many tickets we'll sell, and if we should demand the east stand out of principle.

We didn't qualify for Europe just to roll over and finish bottom like we're Hearts. Win and it's worth €500,000 and helps improve our coefficient for future draws. Beating Rangers would be lovely, but Thursday bigger imo.