Scottish Cup final preview: Rangers v Hibernian live on Sky Sports

By Chris MacRae

Sky Sports pundit Neil McCann is expecting the final to be a tight match

Rejuvenated Rangers will be looking to complete a treble in the Scottish Cup final on Saturday - live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 2pm - against an Hibernian side whose sole focus will be on laying a 114-year hoodoo to rest.

Mark Warburton's reshaped side already have the Petrofac Training Cup and Ladbrokes Championship trophy on the sideboard and, like Hibs, have the additional carrot of a ticket to the Europa League qualifiers if they prevail on Saturday. 

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Rangers' Dominic Ball is suspended after picking up a yellow card in the semi-final win over Celtic and Harry Forrester is out injured while Billy King and Michael O'Halloran are cup-tied. 

Sky Sports pundit Neil McCann is expecting the final to be a tight match

Martyn Waghorn returned from three months out in the final game of the season at St Mirren, and the 28-goal striker is sure to be a key figure in Warburton's pre-match planning. He is likely to be given a pivotal role in attack alongside Kenny Miler and Barrie McKay.  

Image: Rangers' Martyn Waghorn will have a key role to play for his side

Rangers have not played a competitive game for three weeks although they did enjoy a work-out in a bounce game at Tottenham's Enfield training centre last week.

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Hibs will look to end a run of 10 Scottish Cup final defeats stretching back to 1902 when they play Rangers

This weekend's match is only their second appearance together in the final after 1979's three-game saga, eventually won by Rangers 3-2 following a second replay.

Rangers manager Mark Warburton says winning the Scottish Cup this season would be a bonus after achieving promotion

On a day rich with possibility, the 131st final is the first time two sides from outside of the top flight have met in the national showpiece. 

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The clubs have locked horns five times this season; Rangers hold a 3-2 advantage in the head-to-head and they have shared 23 goals so it all points to an entertaining encounter this afternoon. 

Hibernian manager Alan Stubbs says his side are determined to win the final after losing in the playoffs last week

Hibs' agonising play-off loss to Falkirk may have consigned them to a third successive season in the Championship, but it did afford them a nine-day break ahead of this game, their 53rd of a gruelling season.

Two of the players from the 1979 Scottish Cup final look back at the three games it took to separate Hibs and Rangers

The season began last July with a 6-2 Challenge Cup defeat by Rangers and they will be looking to go one better than they did in the League Cup final against Ross County in March, a last-minute Alex Schalk goal sealing County's win. 

Former Leicester goalkeeper Conrad Logan hopes some of his old team's luck rubs off on him when he plays for Hibernian

The weight of history will be on their shoulders as they have lost 10 finals since they last tasted success in the competition in 1902.

Image: Hibs' 25-goal striker Jason Cummings has a fine record against Rangers - but will he start?

Many of their fans will be pinning their hopes on talisman Jason Cummings, who has a fine record against Rangers - eight goals in the past two seasons - but manager Alan Stubbs says he is not guaranteed a start.

Rangers winning the Scottish Cup would be a perfect end to a great season, according to Kenny Miller

He told the Evening News: "I want players who are going into the game in form. Jason got left out on Friday against Falkirk, it was just a call I went with. The fact that James Keatings scored twice has done him no harm whatsoever.

Image: Keeper Conrad Logan (centre) was Hibs hero in the Cup semi-final win over Dundee United

"Was it justified or not? Other people can decide that, but on the day I felt it was the right decision."

Rangers assistant boss David Weir says he has no concerns about his players' fitness going into the Scottish Cup final

The loss of five goals in two matches against Falkirk may prompt Stubbs to turn back to Mark Oxley ahead of semi-final hero Conrad Logan in goal.

Hibernian's Fraser Fyvie was part of the Wigan squad who shocked Manchester City to win the FA Cup in 2013, and he thinks Hibs can lift the Scottish Cup

Midfield schemer Dylan McGeouch is also back in contention having struggled with a groin problem recently. 

Nicky Clark could add a third medal to an already successful season if Rangers beat Hibs
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