St Johnstone striker Steven MacLean has admitted it has been hard to avoid cup final fever ahead of their league game at Motherwell today.
MacLean and his colleagues still have important Premiership business to take care of before they can fully focus on the Celtic Park showdown with Dundee United in a fortnight.
Once the whistle goes at Fir Park, it will all be about trying to get the points that might enable them to catch fifth-placed Inverness Caley Thistle.
However, MacLean conceded that it is hard to avoid getting swept up in the preparations for the big day.
“No matter what anybody says it is still there at the back of your mind,” he said. “All you can do is try your best.
“It is not easy, though, when you come in to the ground and see people buying cup final scarves, T-shirts and tickets.
“All of that kind of stuff was unheard of at St Johnstone until now and it is a good thing for the club.
“You can’t escape it, no matter how hard you try. The players are enjoying the build-up, too, and the amount of interest there has been can only be good for us on the day.”
“As much support we can get the better it will be, as we will be looking for the fans to drive us on to victory.
“It also keeps the feelgood factor going.
“That’s not to say the league games aren’t important and we are looking to keep the momentum going through to the Dundee United game.
“We are on a good run just now and hope to keep it going through our three remaining league matches against first Motherwell, then Celtic and finishing off with Inverness.
“Also, as individual players we know there are only 11 starting jerseys for the final and seven sub places.
“I notice everybody is getting fit so maybe there is a cup final coming up…!”
Saints, who have now sold over 14,000 tickets for the final, still believe they can catch Inverness but even if that does not come to pass there is plenty to play for.
“It is important that we get three good performances in the league and then it’s on to the final,” said MacLean.
“We really have to beat Motherwell to have any chance of catching United in fourth but realistically we are hoping to get past Inverness and into fifth.
“It is going to be tough but on our day we can match anybody and that wasn’t a bad draw we got up at Aberdeen last weekend. We have momentum and want to keep that going.”
It has been noticeable that when you ask teammates about star striker Stevie May several of them also throw in MacLean’s name, highlighting that it’s a partnership.
MacLean said: “I just go out and play my game. If that means I am helping Stevie do well then that’s great. He deserves everything he has been getting just now and if he keeps scoring goals then he will further his career.
“I was surprised he didn’t get the PFA Young Player of the Year award. I think a few people were a bit shocked. I don’t want to take anything away from Andrew Robertson (of Dundee United, who won the vote). He has had a great seaso but I just think Stevie should have got it for his goals. Oh and plus the fact he is my strike partner and I am biased!”
MacLean has been in contract talks and all seems to be going well.
“We are not far away,” he confirmed. “There are just a few bits and pieces to be sorted out.
“I want to stay. St Johnstone have been good for me and hopefully I have done all right for them.
“They stood by me when I was injured. The gaffer said to me that if I proved my fitness there would be an offer there for me. That was good of him.
“It is what you want to hear but I still had to prove my fitness.
“I had a couple of options but I am looking to stay and I think it will all be fixed up over the next few days.”