Last Updated: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:12
Liverpool winger Stewart Downing hopes it will be third time lucky as he heads to Wembley next week for the Carling Cup final.
The 27-year-old has been to two previous finals, one of which ended in defeat and the other a victory in which he did not get on the pitch.
Liverpool, who are looking to lift a trophy for the first time in over five years, are making their first trip to the famous venue since 1995 during which time the stadium has been rebuilt and Downing admits it probably represents his best chance to finally experience victory there.
Npower championship high-fliers Cardiff, no strangers to Wembley themselves, as this will be their third appearance in five years having lost the 2008 FA Cup final and 2010 Championship play-off, will obviously have other ideas.
But having watched from the bench in 2004 as Middlesbrough beat Bolton and then played in Aston Villa's defeat to Manchester United two years ago the England international is keen to make amends.
"The first one I was an unused sub for Middlesbrough. I would have liked to have played but I was still involved," he said. "The second one for Villa against United - a few things didn't go our way.
"Nemanja Vidic could have been sent off early on and we were a little bit unlucky on the day. It would have been nice to finish with a medal but it wasn't to be. Hopefully this time around I'll get one."
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