The 31-year-old midfielder took advantage of a rare blank weekend for the Tigers to be in the crowd when Portsmouth met West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup semi-final.

Pompey's 1-0 win may have been a scrappy affair, but Hughes was hugely impressed with the rebuilt national stadium.

He said: "I have never played at Wembley in my career but I was there a few weeks ago to watch the FA Cup semi-final between Portsmouth and West Brom. I had a taste then and it is an unbelievable stadium.

"I can see why it (Wembley) is the talk of the town now. When I am away from the club, everyone comes up to talk about it and seems to think we will get there.

"But we have another game to play yet and the next goal at the KC will be massive."

Watford will be boosted tonight by the return of Darius Henderson from suspension and captain John Eustace having yesterday won his appeal against last Sunday's sending off in the first leg.

Hughes knows all about the pressures that will accompany the second leg with the midfielder having had four previous tilts at winning promotion to the top flight with Birmingham City via the play-offs.

He recalls: "It is an experience that you never forget. And it is a nice way to get to the Premier League, I achieved it with Birmingham. We went to the Millennium Stadium (in 2002) and it was a great atmosphere.

"But I also had semi-final heartache three years on the spin and that was difficult. It was not nice at all. Two of those defeats were on penalties, too, so, hopefully, we won't need them (tonight).

"I think it is only once that I have gone into the second leg of a semi-final in front.

"We won 1-0 (at St Andrews) against Preston but then lost 2-1 in the return.

"It was the first year that away goals did not count double, that just about summed up Birmingham at the time because we lost on penalties.

"There is a danger of getting complacent when 2-0 up but that is now what we are about. We have proved that this season because we have always tried to score goals. I can't see it being any different against Watford."

Last six games: Hull City DWLWLW, Watford LDLLDL.

Referee: M Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).

Last time: Hull City 3 Watford 0; March 29, 2008; Championship.