NEIL ALEXANDER is looking to earn his fellow Hearts fans the capital derby bragging rights tomorrow - a status he revelled in when going to the fixtures with his Hibs-supporting dad.

The match at Easter will be the ex-Rangers keeper's debut in the clash of Edinburgh's big two teams. He missed Hearts' 1-0 Tynecastle win in August through a broken cheekbone.

The 36-year-old goalie said: "I used to go to Hibs v Hearts games at Easter Road as a boy.

"My dad was a Hibees supporter and I was a Jambos fan so I used to give him a bit of stick as we used to win more of the derbies than we lost.

"It was great being brought up with these games. I loved it and I'm now looking forward to playing in one."

Alexander is one of a number of people at the club who are steeped in derby tradition.

Director of football Craig Levein has played for Hearts and managed them in numerous derbies while head coach Robbie Neilson is also a veteran of the fixture.

A large proportion of Hearts players also grew up supporting the club while their main all-time weapon against Hibs is coach John Robertson, who netted a record 27 derby goals against Hibs in his playing days.

Alexander admitted: "Robbo was my hero because he was the goalscorer.

"When I was young I used to get a new Hearts strip for Christmas with Robertson's number 11 on the back.

"Then I had the privilege of working with him when I was at Livingston, and now he's here as well."

Hibs face a shortage of defenders for the derby.

Liam Fontaine is out with a thigh injury and fellow stopper Jordon Forster faces six weeks out with a broken foot.