Hampden final is not just a day out insists Queen of the South boss Chisholm

IT'S NOT as if Hampden finals are a new experience for Gordon Chisholm, but the Queen of the South manager is still trying to get his head around the fact he is in this one. Four weeks after the SFL season ended and only one year after going full-time, his First Division side will take on UEFA Cup finalists Rangers in the Scottish Cup showcase.

"Look at this squad, this club, and the way we started the season, we could never have guessed we would be in the cup final, so looking at it over the piece this has to be the highlight. I went to the final with Dundee United (in 2005] but I just think with these resources, getting to a cup final, and then Europe is massive. I wouldn't have believed anyone if you had told me this is what would happen at the start of the season."

Unthinkable the feat may be but that does not mean they will be uncompetitive. The expectation levels may be different this time round, with many saying the semi-final was actually the Dumfries side's day, but Chisholm doesn't buy into that. Having taken one SPL scalp in Aberdeen, he says his players will be out to claim another.

"We are putting pressure on ourselves. It's not just a day out. I think even some of our supporters thought the game against Aberdeen would be our cup final, but I can assure you that wasn't the belief in the dressing room and it won't be the belief against Rangers. As good as they are, it's all about what happens on the day and we won't let anybody down.

"Beating Aberdeen will have given the players belief and they have already proved they can compete. People talk about our great work ethic and our team spirit and it's true we have those things, but we also have good players. We are happy to go out and play. It's not a case of 'what are we doing here?' We are here on merit. We are here because we have won games and won them well."

But win or lose, the club have already benefited. As well as kudos, there is the guaranteed European ties next year and the finance and opportunity that brings will help the manager strengthen.

"Players will want to be involved in European football and that should make the job of bringing players to the club or keeping those who are here already easier. It will help us attract better quality because I want to challenge in the league next year. I'm not saying we are going to win it but I would like to think we could be competing in the top five. This is a platform for us to build on."

The manager says it's the biggest game in the career of every player at the club and Chisholm is enjoying the build up, even though the training in Glasgow means the majority of players are divorced from the hype in Dumfries. The blue and white bunting is beginning to creep like ivy, the shop front displays uniform in their colour schemes.

"My wife has even been asked to judge the best dressed window!" says Chisholm. Some would consider that as pressurised a job as her husband's because at the moment he can do no wrong.