Joe Newell says it is the 'perfect' time for Hibs to face off with Hearts as he aims to end his derby suffering.
The Hibees and the Jambos both go in to the showpiece Edinburgh derby in poor form with Lee Johnson's men without a win in their previous four games after being on the receiving end of a hammer blow defeat to bottom side Dundee United. For Hearts the consequences of a poor run were more drastic as long-term boss Robbie Neilson was sacked following defeat to St Mirren.
That sent shockwaves across Edinburgh but Newell wants rid of his rotten record against the Gorgie. The midfielder has just a single victory over Hearts in eight encounters - his debut in the fixture almost three years ago. The Leith outfit are, on the whole, without a win in nine games in the derby but he says they are due to 'give them one' come the weekend.
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He said: "It's horrendous, definitely the worst part of being a footballer, losing your local derby.
"And then the absolute opposite, there is no better feeling in life, if we win next week I can't think of anything else I could do that will make me that happy. That's the reality and they will feel the same.
"All our lads will know the importance of it, there will be no question marks going into it next week. It's probably the perfect game to have after a few bad results, I can't deny that they have had our number the last few times.
"We are due them one. With the extra importance of making the top six, it should be a good game, since I have been here I have played Hearts a few times.
"The year they went down, they still beat us at Easter Road. It's an old cliche, isn't it? Form goes out the window in derbies, I can't emphasise it enough how much it would mean to me, it would mean the world.
“It's impossible to play for this club and not be really invested in it. I have been here four years now, you have got mates who are fans, your own family and friends become fans.
“It's impossible not to be a fan yourself when you have been here this long. It's something I have thought about a lot and I will be trying as hard as I can, You are either on top of the world or think it's the end of the world. It can change so quickly and we know that.
"If I could have picked one game to bounce back next Saturday it would be the derby. It's perfect in that respect, it's at home, so we will be straight back on the training ground and focused on that.”
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