Dundee United boss Mixu Paatelainen has received a boost ahead of Saturdays Scottish Cup semi-final against Hibernian at Hampden Park - live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 12pm - after captain Paul Paton was passed fit. The Northern Ireland international midfielder was struggling with a recurrence of his earlier knee problem but has been cleared to face the Championship side.Paton was sidelined for nine months after suffering his previous knee injury but has impressed since his return to action in January. Paatelainen said: Paul has been magnificent for us, hes a leader not only by his actions and his performances. His crunching tackles are vitally important for us, we are delighted that Paul is fit and available to play.One man who will miss the trip to Glasgow is defender Gavin Gunning, who was released by Paatelainen earlier this week following his bizarre exit from the game against Inverness, while fellow centre-back Mark Durnan is suspended. Dundee United Mixu Paatelainen says his side must be positive on Saturday Hibernian boss Alan Stubbs, whose side have won only two of their last 11 matches, faces a goalkeeping dilemma and will have to decide between Otso Virtanen and Conrad Logan as first-choice Mark Oxley is suspended, along with forward James Keatings.Hibs romped to 3-0 win over United in a League Cup quarter-final tie at Easter Road in November. Hibs manager Alan Stubbs says his side are desperate to win their Scottish Cup semi-final against Dundee United Jason Cummings was on target for Hibees that day and he believes the defeat will preoccupy the Taysiders minds at the national stadium.The 20-year-old said: They have been struggling a bit this season and have lost the majority of games they have played and we have won the majority of games we have played so I think that will come into play a wee bit. Jason Cummings has been in fine goalscoring form for Hibs this season And I think it will be in the back of their minds, the fact that we have already beaten them 3-0.That night we were different class and we battered them off the pitch. It was a comfortable 3-0 and it could have been more. Luke Shanley reports from Hampden Park, where the pitch has been relaid ahead of the Scottish Cup semi-finals I think that is massive for us, the fact that we have already beaten them and beaten them comfortably. The boys will go into Saturday knowing we can do it again and I am buzzing for it.Watch Hibernian v Dundee United in the Scottish Cup semi-finals live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 12pm on Saturday. Tuukka Rask Jersey . 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And like the near entirety of last season, Jonathan Bernier and Torontos goaltending tandem is up to the task. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Rays latest defeat had a little different twist -- four late runs and six hits that left them one run short of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Andrew McCutchen drove in two runs, Jeff Locke pitched into the eighth inning and the Pirates beat the Rays 6-5 on Tuesday night, handing Tampa Bay its 20th loss in 28 games. "The moral victories are not what were looking for right now; were looking for the actual victories," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "I love the idea that the winning run came to the plate. ... Theres a lot of good things to draw from tonight, but we cant continue to lose this type of game." Russell Martins fourth home run gave the Pirates a 6-1 lead, but Evan Longoria hit a two-run home run off Locke in the eighth. Singles by Logan Forsythe, Desmond Jennings and Brandon Guyer produced two more runs off closer Mark Melancon in the ninth, but Longorida flied out to end it. "We were maybe a hit away or something, but it happens," said Guyer, who scored on Longorias 10th home run in the eighth. "We just have to bring the momentum into the game tomorrow and try to get a win." The Pirates have the NLs best record (27-18) since May 6, and moved above .500 (39-38) for the first time since starting the season 7-6. McCutchen had an RBI single during a three-run third inning that put the Pirates ahead 4-0. The 2013 NL MVP had two RBIs in Pittsburghs 8-1 win Monday night over the Rays. Locke (1-1) allowed three runs and eight hits over 7 1-3 innings. His night ended with Longorias homer. Melancon got his 13th save. Chris Archer (4-5) gave up five runs and seven hits in seven innings for the Rays. "We lost. We got an L, but we played hard and I dont know that there was much more we could do, other than me not walking two leadoff hitters," Archer said. "That ultimately was the difference in the game." Pirates left ffielder Starling Marte left in the fifth inning with concussion-like symptoms after a head-first slide during a failed stolen base attempt.dddddddddddd He made contact with Rays second baseman Sean Rodriguez on the play. Gregory Polanco started the game with a walk, stole second and advanced to third on catcher Jose Molinas throwing error, and scored to make it 1-0 on a grounder by McCutchen. Polanco has reached base in all of his 14 games since being recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on June 10. Tampa Bay got within 4-1 in the fifth when Forsythe hit a two-out triple and Jose Molina followed with an RBI double. Molina, who has two RBIs in 43 games this season, is 2 for 34 with runners in scoring position. Marte hit a run-scoring single and Neil Walker had a sacrifice fly in the third, a three-run inning which started with a walk to Pedro Alvarez. Walker returned after being on the 15-day disabled list since June 9 because of an appendectomy. NOTES: Kevin Kiermaier pinch hit for Rays SS Yunel Escobar in the eighth, partly because of a sore right shoulder than will keep Escobar out of the lineup for Wednesdays series finale. ... Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle should announce Wednesday when RHP Gerrit Cole (right shoulder fatigue) will return to the rotation. Cole threw a simulated game Monday, which lines him up to start this weekend. ... Tampa Bay C Ryan Hanigan was scratched due to neck stiffness. ... Maddon said RHP Jeremy Hellickson (right elbow surgery) will need at least one more minor league start before returning. ... NASCAR driver Aric Almirola took batting practice and gave Maddon a Rays racing helmet. ... Tampa Bay LHP David Price (5-7) and Pirates RHP Charlie Morton (4-8) are Wednesdays scheduled starters. Price, the subject of trade speculation, said he has thought about the situation and its the reason why hes been in a "bad mood" recently. ' ' '