Dundee United midfielder Ryan Dow had the perfect start to his cup final build-up and now wants the ideal finish.
He put pen to paper on a new two-year deal with the Tangerines before joining his teammates at the Old Course Hotel in St Andrews to kick-start their preparations for the big one against St Johnstone.
Dow’s dream now is to help the club he has supported since boyhood to lift the William Hill Scottish Cup at Celtic Park on Saturday.
Speaking in the shadow of golf’s most famous course, he said: “I have signed a new two-year contract and that’s a great way to start the week.
“Hopefully, there will be an even better end to the week on Saturday. To sign an extension is good and if we can win the cup then it will be brilliant.
“My agent and the gaffer had been talking for a few months and it is nice to get it sorted. It has been a busy time with games but I was looking to get it all done before the cup final.
“It was an easy decision. All I want to do is play and I have been doing that here.”
“The way the manager sets the team up suits me down to the ground,” said Dow.
“I am also a local boy as well so it makes sense.”
Dow is loving life at United under Jackie McNamara and he was delighted when the manager said a firm no to Blackpool when they showed an interest in him last week.
“It is a big factor that the manager is here,” admitted Dow.
“He obviously believes in me and has given me a lot of games the most I have ever played.
“There has been talk about that last week (McNamara for Blackpool) but my mind was made up before that that I was staying here. I am glad he stayed and I hope he is here for the foreseeable future.”
Dow was just one of the now first-team players who were in the crowd to watch United lift the cup in 2010 by beating Ross County, with Ryan Gauld and John Souttar the others.
He enjoyed himself that day as he watched David Goodwillie’s remarkable lob hit the back of the Staggies’ net then Craig Conway grab a double.
This time, though, he wants to be more closely involved in the action.
“My dad was a United fan as were my pals so I had a season ticket for a good number of years. The highlight for me watching United was the 2010 Scottish Cup final.
“I was in the youth team but I went through to Hampden as a fan with my pals and it was a brilliant day.
“I got a good view of Goodie’s goal. I was right behind the goal at that end of the ground so saw it going in all the way. I would have an even better view if I managed to do that myself on Saturday!
“This time my family and pals are all going again but this time it will be a bit different for them because I will be on the pitch hopefully.
“I recall the next day as well because I went up to Tannadice for the cup being paraded and that was pretty special.
“It was fantastic and I would love to get to the City Square this time if we win it because I didn’t make it there in 2010.”