St Mirren boss Gus MacPherson is looking for semi-final redemption against Hearts in the Co-operative Insurance Cup - but insists the game must not be taken to Easter Road.
The semi-final ties, which were drawn at Tynecastle on Monday, are set to be played on Tuesday, February 2, and Wednesday 3, and while the Rangers versus St Johnstone match will almost certainly be played at Hampden, the other venue has yet to be confirmed.
Asked if Fir Park or Easter Road, home of Hearts' Edinburgh rivals Hibernian, would be more suitable in terms of atmosphere, MacPherson, whose side lost to Rangers in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup last season, replied: "Easter Road would not be a benefit to St Mirren football club. That would be an absolute ridiculous decision if that was the venue."
He added: "It will be for other people to decide but most people at St Mirren would be against it if Easter Road was put forward.
"The players would love to play at their national stadium.
"I have experienced it as a Kilmarnock player when we played St Mirren and although it wasn't the biggest crowd, I still think if you asked any player they would much rather have the opportunity to play at Hampden."
MacPherson insists his players will be better equipped to cope with the pressures of a semi-final appearance following their 3-0 defeat to Rangers at the national stadium last season.
"It was a disappointment but I didn't criticise the players too much," he said.
"We played well in certain areas but didn't look like breaking Rangers down but a lot of teams have suffered in that way.
"We would hope that the players would gain from the experience. They were there at Hampden, played in that atmosphere and we hope they would learn from it and put it to good use against Hearts."
