Four times this season Hearts' first-team squad and staff have suffered significant delays to the delivery of salaries, the latest coming last month.

And despite tightening financial constraints at the club, Paulo Sergio's side have come through a tumultuous season by reaching the cup semi-final and securing a place in the Scottish Premier League top six.

"We've been through a lot and we've not really got anything to lose," said Jambos winger Driver, who sought a move in January after three successive months of delayed wages.

"It's been a tough season. The way the players have handled it we've got to be commended.

"There has been a siege mentality - it's been like that for a few seasons at Hearts.

"If we can get to a cup final, or even make ourselves proud on Sunday, it will show the character of the team."

Quality

And the 24-year-old anticipates Hearts have the players at their disposal to defeat Celtic, a side they have beaten twice in the last six meetings.

"We've got a lot of quality in the team and on our day I think we can beat anybody," he added.

"We know we can do it. It's about how we perform on the day.

"Last time we played against them we got played off the park (losing 4-0 in February). We've got to learn from the mistakes we made in that game.

"We've just got to concentrate on ourselves, prepare the way we need to prepare and I think if we do that we've got a chance of going out there and causing an upset."