Fulham FC keeper Mark Schwarzer hopes he will enjoy the FA Cup final for more than 42 seconds this year.

That's how long it took for the the cup-tied Australian 12 years ago to watch his big day bite the dust even before he had settled in his Wembley seat.

Schwarzer was forced to watch from the stands as Middlesbrough conceded the quickest goal in the showpiece final's history to Roberto Di Matteo and Chelsea in 1997.

The Fulham shot-stopper went on to appear in League Cup and UEFA Cup finals in his 11-year stint at The Riverside, but the FA Cup final has so far eluded him - until now.

The Whites host 11-time winners Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter-final tomorrow evening, and Schwarzer is desperate for another chance to be at Wembley in May.

He said: "It would be massive to reach the final. I've been involved with Middlesbrough before. Unfortunately, I was cup tied in my very first year there.

"I enjoyed it for 42 seconds until Chelsea scored, so that was that. Whenever you come away

from a cup final losing, you always want to go on that journey again and put it right.

"I've been fortunate enough to have had a few opportunities in finals and so far have only won one. I'd love to improve that record."

However, Roy Hodgson's men face an in-form United side who've already won two trophies this season and are flying high at the top of the Premiership.

However, Schwarzer reckons Sir Alex Ferguson's men won't fancy the tight 25,000-seat ground in comparison to Old Trafford, which could squeeze a capacity Craven Cottage crowd in to one end.

"The small ground works fantastically well for us," said the 36-year-old.

"We've made some teams look ordinary, and that's a credit to the way we play at home."

Schwarzer was at fault for Paul Scholes' opener as the champions swept aside the Whites 3-0 in Manchester two weeks ago.

And the giant Aussie hopes to exorcise his demons in the last-eight clash.

He added: "I was as disappointed as anyone with the way we played at Man U, especially the way I conceded the first goal. But you have to get on with it. That game's dead and buried now."