DAVID Van Zanten is desperate for St Mirren to win their final Scottish Cup tie at Love Street in style - and erase the memory of his quarter-final heartache.

Van Zanten and his team-mates take on First Division St Johnstone in a last- eight replay at the famous old Paisley ground this evening.

And the stopper is keen for the Buddies, who move to a new stadium in the town next season, to clinch a semi-final spot against Rangers or Partick Thistle at Hampden.

He said: "This is a massive game for the players and the club as a whole. We're all very keen to win our last Scottish Cup game at Love Street and get into the semi-finals.

"We managed to get a second bite at the cherry after staging a comeback against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park. It is a chance we want to take.

"We have been in this situation before. Gretna knocked us out two seasons ago. All the boys who were part of that disappointment have a point to prove.

"I've played at Hampden once before in the BP Youth Cup Final for Celtic Under-18s against Aberdeen and it was a great experience.

"To get to the semi-final of a major tournament like that would be fantastic for the players, the fans, the club and the town as a whole.

"But nobody is thinking about the semi-final yet. We all know we have a tough game against St Johnstone coming up. They are a decent side.

"They showed that when they dictated the play in the first half at McDiarmid Park. The weather wasn't good and the playing surface was bad, but they are a good side."