Maurice Malpas reckons he is poised to lose his unique place in the 100-year history of Dundee United.
Malpas is the only man to captain United to Scottish Cup glory, but he believes Andy Webster is about to follow in his footsteps.
But having come up against Ross County regularly this term in his job as assistant manager at first division title winners Inverness Caledonian Thistle, he warns the Tangerines will need to be at their best.
“If Dundee United turn up with the right attitude and play the way they can then there will only be one winner,” predicted the Tannadice legend.
“If they are just off the mark, like Celtic were in the semi against County, though, they’ll get beat.
“Ross County are well organised and have great energy. Their midfield four are every place and Michael Gardyne can cause all sorts of problems if you give him enough time.Nerves”They lack a prolific goalscorer that’s their biggest weakness but from our experience this season they are a hard, hard team to play. They just don’t let you settle into a passing rhythm.
“Nerves, though, play big parts in cup finals and United, given they are used to playing big games, should be more used to that sort of situation and perhaps better equipped to deal with it.”
Malpas revealed excitement in the north of the country is approaching fever pitch as the countdown to the final continues.
“If County were to win the cup they’d get the freedom of the Highlands,” he said.
“That’s how big a deal this is up there. Since we won promotion it’s the cup final that everyone has been speaking about.
“There are 15,000 punters coming down and I know a right few Inverness Caley fans who’ll be in amongst that.
“The whole area has got behind County. There are companies taking their entire staff to Glasgow for the weekend.
“That’s the thing up north the rivalry between the two clubs is nothing like it is in the central belt.
“You couldn’t see Hibs fans going to support Hearts at Hampden or United supporters backing Dundee.
“But up there everyone is glorying in one of the teams getting to a national cup final.
“They also believe they’ve a chance of lifting the cup. Having beaten Celtic in the semis they think there’s a real opportunity to go all the way.”ReliefIf Webster is to follow him in leading United to cup glory then Malpas admitted the on-loan Rangers defender is likely to be on more of a high than he was in 1994.
“The feeling of winning the trophy never goes away but sadly I can’t remember that much about the game itself,” he said.
“The referee’s watch must have been flying as the game flashed by. At the end it was just a sense of relief rather than joy that hit me.
“That was the fifth final I’d been to and I’d lost the previous four. I’d been there as underdogs and as favourites and it was always the same outcome egg on the face and back up the road!
“At that stage of my career I couldn’t see me being involved in another final.
“The Dundee United team at the time wasn’t the best we’d had I thought we were on the wane to be honest.
“That played on my mind I couldn’t have handled playing in five finals without winning the trophy.
“So when the final whistle went it was just sheer, utter relief.
“It was nice to then hang around Hampden rather than making a sharp exit like I’d been used to doing.
“And no one can ever take away from me the fact I captained United to their first Scottish Cup success.
“But it took until the next day for the joy to kick in.”