As Hibs get ready to take on Rangers, Sproule looks back on his favourite Ibrox moment – and it's not the one you might think..

THERE'S a photograph of Ivan Sproule celebrating a goal at Ibrox which takes pride of place on the wall of the former Hibs star's new home in Bristol.

But it isn't, as most people would think, of the day the previously unknown Northern Ireland winger shot to fame with a hat-trick in Govan, the first Hibs player to do so in more than a century.

For as much as Sproule enjoyed that day out, it was his goal as Hibs returned to Ibrox a few months later and produced a repeat of that 3-0 victory to dump Rangers out of the Scottish Cup, which stands out, at least for him, above all others.

He said: "The hat-trick did, as Tony Mowbray told me it would in the dressing-room afterwards, change my life, it showed everyone I had something. But as enjoyable as it was, for me the win in the Cup later that season was better because we went to Ibrox and bossed Rangers from start to finish. I remember waking in the hotel we'd stayed in that morning and just having the feeling we were going to win and that's a big feeling to have going out onto the park.

"Living in Leith, as I did then, I'd had Hibs fans coming up to me every day in the week leading up to the game and I knew exactly what it meant to them all.

"The difference going to Ibrox for a Cup game was incredible. Usually we have a small pocket of supporters in that far corner when it's a league match but that day the whole of the Broomloan Stand was a sea of green and white. Garry O'Connor had already scored for us, I got the second and it felt as if the roof was about to be blown off.

"I was booked for whipping off my jersey to celebrate but I wasn't bothered.

"I was full of emotion, my family were there and all my Rangers-supporting mates so the yellow card was worthwhile."

Chris Killen completed the scoring with his first Hibs goal but even now, two years on, Sproule's memory is as vivid as ever.

He said: "Of all the goals I've scored, even playing for Northern Ireland, that's the goal that stands out for me.

"It's a day which will never leave me.

"I have a few pictures on the wall of my new house including that goal along with my CIS Insurance Cup winning jersey, in fact you'd think I was still with Hibs rather than Bristol City because there's so much stuff from my time at Easter Road hanging up."

Sproule, who was hoping to be in action for the Ashton Gate outfit away to Queen's Park Rangers today, admitted he'll be up early tomorrow for the lunchtime kick-off which is being televised live – ready to introduce his five-week old son Sam to his old club.

He said: "Sam's already got his first Hibs strip and, although he obviously won't take things in, he'll be at my side as I watch the game."

Having featured in three successive defeats at the semi-final stage of the Cup, Sproule fervently hopes Mixu Paatelainen's side can go one better this season, although he admitted they face a tough proposition in facing a Rangers side which hasn't lost a domestic game since being beaten by Dundee United at the end of October. But, by the same token, he believes Hibs have nothing to fear having proved they can match Walter Smith's side with a 1-0 win at Ibrox which briefly fired them to the top of the SPL table.

He said: "You have to go out there believing you are going to win. If you don't then you are beaten before you start. But, from what I hear, Mixu Paatelainen has been doing a great job in the short time he's been manager and I am sure the boys will be right up for it.

"I know their league form hasn't been great recently but a win tomorrow can not only set them off on a good cup run but turn the whole season.

"They've already shown this season how well they can play and being at home they'll have the benefit of three sides of the ground being filled with Hibs fans, which does give you that extra ten or 20 per cent.

"Rangers are a quality side, there's no doubt about it but, in beating both them and Celtic this season, Hibs have shown they are more than a match for anyone on their day. I'll have my fingers and everything else crossed that tomorrow proves to be their day again."

While Hibs' squad has been transformed since the end of last season, Sproule being joined in heading for the exit door by the likes of Scott Brown, Chris Killen, Michael Stewart, Steven Whittaker and, only a few days ago, David Murphy, the highly-popular winger believes his old club still has a pool of talented players.

He said: "The core of the defence is still there in big Rob Jones and Chris Hogg. Steven Fletcher is a big threat in front of goal, as is Benji while Merouane Zemmama can turn a game with his close control and skill. Youngsters such as Lewis Stevenson and Kevin McCann have broken through to be first-team regulars and Mixu has been busy in the transfer window."

And Sproule firmly believes his pal and countryman Dean Shiels, virtually frozen out under John Collins' regime, can prove to be a match-winner.

He said: "Dean and I speak regularly on the phone and he is always sending down presents for Sam. He had a tough time, the reasons for which are nothing to do with me but he didn't appear to get a fair crack of the whip.

"But Dean has shown just what a threat he is, scoring the winner against Celtic and then grabbing that hat-trick to beat Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the last round. He's proved long before this season he's a cracking player who can handle anything the SPL throws at him.

"The return of Ian Murray will also be great for Hibs. When I first arrived at the club we had the likes of Garry O'Connor, Derek Riordan, Gary Caldwell and so on but the one who stood out for me was Ian.

"Tomorrow will be his first home game and the beauty of this game is that it's against Rangers. I'm sure Ian will be going out there to put one over on them."

Having endured the heartbreak of losing three successive semi-finals and obviously well aware of Hibs' Scottish Cup history, Sproule firmly believes that particular drought will come to an end one day – he just hopes to be around to see it happen.

He said: "It's sickening to lose in the semi-final but you have to keep believing the club can shake off those 100 and something years.

"I'm not alone in having a dream of seeing Hibs win the Cup and parading it through Leith. Hopefully, Sam and I will be there to enjoy it."