Could today be a cup final dress rehearsal?
Callum Davidson will send his St Johnstone players out at Easter Road today with a reminder their meeting with Hibs is a potential dress rehearsal for the Premier Sports Cup Final.
Last Thursday night’s draw for the competition’s semifinals prompted an instant reaction to the effect that the Old Firm had been kept apart.
However, as the Saints manager points out, the same also holds true of the two teams who contested last season’s Scottish Cup Final.
Saints, the current holders of both domestic cups, will take on Celtic while Hibs have been paired with Rangers, leaving a pathway for both to reach the November showpiece.
“It is a brilliant thought that we could be meeting Hibs again in the Cup Final soon and I will tell the boys that because it is great to go with a positive mind-set,” he said.
“Listen, Celtic and Rangers are the heavy favourites to go through from the semis and quite rightly so.
“But you never ever go into a game thinking we’re going to lose the game. I always think how can we win it?
“Can we perform to a level that causes Celtic problems and can Hibs do the same? If so, then you might have a chance.
“Sometimes it works, sometimes it d o e s n’t . Hopefully luck’s going to be smiling on us when we get to the semi-final.
“For St Johnstone, a club who hadn’t won the League Cup in its history and had won the Scottish Cup only once, last season was p re t t y special.
“You should never take it for granted. Some players never get to a semi- final or final so it’s something you have to really enjoy.”