Charlie Trafford tasted IRN-BRU Cup glory with Caley Thistle last season, but the midfielder is relishing stepping it up another level in Saturday’s Scottish Cup semi final against Hearts.
Canadian international Trafford helped the Highlanders secure silverware in his first season following his move from Finnish club RoPS, albeit he was an unused substitute for the 1-0 final victory over Dumbarton at McDiarmid Park.
Trafford returns from suspension from the side which defeated Ayr United 1-0 last weekend, with Sean Welsh’s absence through a broken metatarsal presenting the 26-year-old with a starting opportunity.
Trafford is excited by the prospect of performing at Hampden Park for the first time, and is keen to savour the build up to the last-four tie against the Jambos.
He said: “Winning always feels good. We knew it was a smaller cup, and we still enjoyed it, but the whole atmosphere behind this is something different with it being a national tournament.
“It is massive for the club and the players.
“It’s something a lot of players don’t get to experience in their whole career. It’s a special thing to go to the national stadium.
“It’s a massive thing for us as a team, we are going into it with a lot of pride. It’s an unbelievable experience and we just have to take it in and enjoy it.
“Once the match kicks off it’s all business but until then we need to embrace the moment.”
Trafford has enjoyed a sustained run in John Robertson’s side in recent weeks, having initially having had to show patience after signing a three-year deal with the Highlanders.
He added: “I have been trying to keep quiet and not make a fuss. Throughout the whole year I have been thinking I should be playing, but it’s a team thing so I’ve just had to keep my head down and wait for my chance.
“That has come, I have stepped up and embraced every chance. The cup games have brought a different atmosphere so I have stepped up for that and really enjoyed myself.
“I have stepped into a role into the team, I’m starting to enjoy myself and get more belief in myself.
Caley Jags’ heavy defeat to Hearts in the Betfred Cup group stage last July still rankles with Trafford, who insists he is on a revenge mission against Craig Levein’s side, insisting Inverness have improved markedly since then.
Trafford added: “Before the season started we brought a bunch of new players in. We lost 5-0, but I don’t think it was necessarily a 5-0 game.
“At the same time it has been in the back of our minds the whole year. This is maybe a chance to show how far we have come, and get a bit of revenge.
“We definitely are underdogs, we have a lot less to lose. All the pressure is on them, they can’t be slipping up against a team from a division below.
“At the same time we are going into it with a lot of belief. We are in good form right now and there’s full confidence throughout the group.
“We are going in quietly confident. The cup run has brought a lot of confidence to the club and we have taken that into the league.
“When you are winning you feel way less fatigue. We have had a busy run of games but we have been winning, so the belief is there.
“The cup has definitely helped that. It has been a massive building block for us. It has gone both ways – things are starting to look good in the league and we have got a brilliant chance in the cup.”