The joy of winning a cup tests most mens ability to keep emotions in check and a Falkirk win could see a lot failing in that task for other than football reasons.

With both Rangers and Falkirk stalling full celebrations from last week's winning of the SPL and staying in the SPL, they head to Hampden for the right to lift the Homecoming Scottish Cup. Rangers' midfielder Davis is well aware the Bairns will be fully focused on the game at Hampden and believes Rangers will be no different, as they attempt to end the season with a domestic double. He said: "We have to finish the season on a high and then we can go away and enjoy our holidays. We've enjoyed winning the league and now it's back to business. Hopefully we can finish the season by winning a double. We were totally focused on winning the title - we have done that and now we focus on Saturday. There is a lot riding on it. Cup finals are special occasions and both teams will do their utmost to win it. It might be a bit more relaxed in terms of a lot of weight being off both teams' shoulders; we can go out and enjoy the occasion and put on a good performance."

Rangers won the cup this time last year after a hard-fought 3-1 win over Queen of the South and Davis is looking forward to another showpiece event. He said: "I think you just have to enjoy the day. They are special occasions to be involved in and you don't know when the next one is going to be so you have to make the most of it. The whole atmosphere of the day is special and it's just a big day to be involved with." Rangers were out of the traps quickly when they best Dundee United 3-0 to clinch the championship last weekend when Kyle Lafferty set the ball rolling on an historic victory after just six minutes at Tannadice. And Davis wants to catch Falkirk cold with another good start at Hampden. He said: "You always aim to start the game well and get an early goal. It can be a big factor. If we can get ourselves in front, we can settle down and try to play football. It will be no different come Saturday."

Rangers will give Pedro Mendes and Maurice Edu every opportunity to prove their fitness ahead of game. The midfield duo are rated doubtful after both picked up thigh knocks during last week's win at Tannadice. The absence of either player could pave the way for deposed skipper Barry Ferguson to make his first start since he was stripped of the captaincy and banned by the club.

Falkirk manager John Hughes will find it hard to watch if the father of Craig Gowans is the man called upon to join captain Darren Barr in lifting the Cup. Gowans had just turned 17 when he was killed in an accident at the club's Grangemouth training ground back in July 2005 and as a tribute to the former youth-team player, his dad, John, will lead the Bairns out against Rangers at the national stadium. Craig's mother Sheila, brothers Darren and Dean, and sister Lynsey, will also be there as Falkirk aim to beat Rangers and bring the cup back to the town for the first time since 1957. The Bairns' boss is hoping John Gowans will be able to complete what is certain to be an emotional day by making the trip up the Hampden steps with Barr to hold the trophy aloft in front of around 13,000 Falkirk fans.

Hughes said: "It's going to be a very emotional day. John is going to walk the team out and I am proud that he is doing that. It is also very fitting that Sheila and the kids are coming along. I had to be very respectful to the family and approach them in the right manner. John said yes because he would be walking out in Craig's footsteps. I am a very emotional guy and if I would love to see John and Darren going up to lift the cup and if that were to happen then I don't think I could hold the tears back. That's what it means to us."

Tam Scobbie and Scott Arfield, Gowan's fellow youth team-mates, both scored in the semi-final against Dunfermline to take Falkirk to their first final since 1997. Scobbie revealed he will take added emotional baggage on to the Hampden pitch. He said: "Craig was a major part of my life and he still is and for his dad us to lead us out with Craig's name on our shirts is great. I was at his funeral and Craig's dad told me Craig looked up to me as a player and he said, `If you are going to do anything in football, do it for Craig'."

Editor
Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba.net)

Admin Team (admin@scottishfitba.net)

This is Scottish-Fitba.Net