Dundee United manager Jackie McNamara will tell his players to be true to themselves in the William Hill Scottish Cup final.
McNamara believes if his players show what they are really capable of against St Johnstone then they will leave Celtic Park as winners.
A strong, talented Saints team stands between them and glory but the Tannadice boss is confident that if his Tangerines can scale the heights they have reached at times this season then victory can be theirs.
“Every day I see the players in training and I see their capabilities,” said McNamara.
“It is all about getting that into the match. I am a great believer in them, even the ones who have not played as often as the others.
“Looking at our matches at times, often it just needs something to spark it all off.
“It could just be that the ball is sticking well up front, allowing the movement to happen and midfielders to get up to support the attack.
“At times the players can move about with a freedom and often don’t get picked up.
“There are certain games where it works more than others but every manager will have their own frustrations with their team because he knows what they are really capable of doing.
“For me, I think we have been more on it this season than off it. You only have to think of the runs we have been on and the goals we have scored.
“We have scored 87 this season and I don’t know the last time United scored 87 goals. It must be a wee while ago.
“I think any of our forward-minded players Ryan Dow, Ryan Gauld, Stuart Armstrong or Gary Mackay-Steven are great when they are on their game.
“Also, Nadir Ciftci up top is unplayable at times. But in a cup final you need everyone to be on their top game, not just one or two.
“It is about how you handle the situation and how you go out and perform on the pitch.
“We may have to be patient and we will certainly have to match the oppostion first and foremost.
“Only then and only if we show our true quality, will we get the result we want.”
Darren Jackson believes that the coaching team have done all they can in the build-up now it’s up to the players.
Jackson, who scored United’s late equaliser in the 1991 final at Hampden which Motherwell went on to win in extra time, said: “I sometimes think it’s like a golfer who’s got a putting coach.
“Yes, you can teach him and teach him and teach him, but can he stand over that putt on the 18th green to win the Masters?
“He can’t. You can talk to them about your experiences, but they’re the ones who have to go out on the pitch and have to handle the whole situation.
“You feel the tension, there’s no use saying you don’t.
“You go away to a hotel for a couple of days, you get measured up for your suits, new training gear’s coming, new strips, so you can’t hide from it.
“You just have to try to handle it. Up until now, the boys have been great and they don’t look as though they’re showing any nerves or tension.”
Jackson refuses to accept that United have the edge in the game.
“We can’t be favourites St Johnstone have beaten us three times this season,” he explained.
“I know they’re trying to pass the buck over, that we’re favourites because we finished above them in the league.
“But in a cup final, it’s who handles the occasion better. You might need a little bit of luck on the day, but it’s down to who performs.”