St Mirren legend Frank McGarvey has urged his old team to forget the fear factor...and put the frighteners on Rangers in the Home-coming Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden.

The Paisley side have not reached the final of the competition since McGarvey helped them capture the trophy with a 1-0 extra-time win over Dundee United in 1987.

Gus MacPherson's side, however, recorded a 1-0 SPL win over Rangers in October and McGarvey believes that result - and the win that ended Celtic's cup hopes - should boost the Paisley side's confidence.

The former Celtic and Scotland striker said: "St Mirren will never have a better chance of beating Rangers.

"It's not always the favourites who win semi-finals - we weren't the favourites when we beat Hearts in 1987 - it's about who has the best attitude on the day.

"St Mirren have beaten Rangers and Celtic this season, so they are not afraid of the Old Firm and there's no reason they can't beat Rangers again.

"They did well to beat Celtic in the last round because I was at the SPL game the week previously and they were demolished 7-0 by Celtic.

"You need matchwinners to win games and if they have Billy Mehmet back from injury then they will have two in him and Andy Dorman."

McGarvey grabbed the winner for Celtic against Dundee United in the 1985 final.

But he's aware of the difference between playing for one of the Old Firm clubs and playing for a club outside of the Glasgow giants.

He said: "There was a great sense of achievement when you do something with a smaller side.

"In 1985 when I won the cup for Celtic, it was just a sense of relief among the players.

"We just knew the fans couldn't get on to us until at least the following season."