Can Division Two champions Gretna, who are already guaranteed a place in next season's UEFA Cup, manage to upset a Hearts side who shocked many by finishing second in the SPL and reaching the Champions League?

Well, the bookies say no and, to be fair, so does common sense but...there is a lingering feeling that the Gretna story has one final, swashbuckling chapter left this season.

Come on Gretna - one more win!
Vital Quotes:
There hasn't been a shortage of quotes in the press in recent weeks and some of the comments have been amusing, while others have been predictable.

Gretna managing director Brooks Mileson told the world how he had 'waved his willy in the air on a full moon' to try and help with his debilitating ME, while former Celtic and Chelsea player Craig Burley had a dig at Gretna's money.

However, one feature of the buildup has been a lack of antagonism between the two sides. Perhaps the Scottish Cup would be far better if the Old Firm fail to qualify for the final every season...
Hearts Team News:
Hearts have no injury concerns and can name their strongest side, whatever that is. They have a large squad (well, so do Gretna, it must be said) and a question mark remains over who will be left out.

Hearts squad (provisional): Gordon, Neilson, Fyssas, Pressley, Tall, Aguiar, Cesnauskis, Hartley, Skacel, Mikoliunas, Jankauskas, Bednar, Pospisil, Banks, Berra, Wallace, Barasa, Webster.
Player to watch: Paul Hartley
Hartley has proved himself to be a man for the big occasion recently and he has destroyed far better defences than Gretna's.

His pace could cause problems for Gretna's ageing back-line, who will have to use their immense experience to contain him.
Gretna Team News:
Gretna have a fully fit squad to chose from, with many of the older players relishing the chance to return to the highest stage.

Whereas many Division Two teams would be packed full of youngsters who could be overawed by the occasion, Gretna have many former SPL players who have played in the cup final before.

They'll all have to be on the top of their game but they know that, and their experience could prove crucial.

Gretna squad (provisional): Main, Birch, Townsley, Innes, McGuffie, O'Neil, Nicholls, McQuilken, Tosh, Skelton, Deuchar, Grady, Shields, Mathieson, McBride, Berkeley, Graham, Henderson.
Player to watch: Kenny Deuchar
Deuchar is an old-fashioned target man and not the fastest striker in the world.

But he knows how to score!

Whether he is a great finisher, or he gets superlative service is debatable, perhaps it's a mixture of the two, but he has an added incentive for scoring the winning-goal - Brooks Mileson has promised to buy him a Jaguar XJR!
Match Facts & Stats
Hearts will be the first SPL team that Gretna have played in this year's Scottish Cup, having dispatched Preston Athletic, Cove Rangers and the Division One quartet of St Johnstone, Clyde, St Mirren and Dundee.

The Black and Whites didn't concede a single goal against the Division One teams, although Hearts represent a bigger step-up in class.
Ref Watch:
Dougie McDonald has been appointed as referee. It is a first major final for the talented referee, who has extensive experience not just in Scotland but also abroad, and has been on the FIFA list since 2000.

His assistants at the cup final will be Jim Lyon and Brian McGarry, while the fourth official is Charlie Richmond.
Match Prediction:
In all honesty, Gretna will either win, somehow, or Hearts will score five or more.

It is unlikely that Hearts will only win 1-0, but who cares? With a packed Hampden Park, the afternoon will be a celebration of football and have one of the least aggressive atmospheres of any final in years.
Next Fixtures:
Fun and games in Division One for Gretna, and a UEFA Cup campaign (okay, perhaps just two games, but so what?!).

Hearts will hope to repeat their successful season, or perhaps go one step further and win the SPL. Wouldn't that be great?