St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright is pleased it will be another provincial club which succeeds Saints as Scottish Cup winners.
The semi-finals at the weekend saw first Falkirk edge past Hibs and then Inverness Caley Thistle produce a terrific performance to end Celtic’s treble dream with a thrilling 3-2 extra-time victory.
That ensured it will be either Peter Houston’s Bairns or John Hughes’ Highlanders who will experience all the joy that the Perth men savoured following their defeat of Dundee United last year.
That is just fine by Wright, who argued that it is good for the Scottish game that the honours are spread around the country.
“That is the beauty of the cup and, coming on the back of our win last year, it’s great to see two provincial teams in the final,” said the Saints manager as he reflected on the Hampden drama.
“The two communities of Falkirk and Inverness will get a lift, just as we did here in Perth.
“It is a great achievement but I know that John and Peter won’t think reaching the final will be enough they will want to win it now.
“I take my hat off to both of them because the two teams did extremely well in their semi-finals.
“I think it’s good for the game and it creates interest when you get results and events that surprise people.
“For me, it was no big surprise that Inverness beat Celtic because they are more than capable of it and had a good performance against them the previous week.
“But to do it when it really mattered is to their credit.
“Last year Celtic didn’t win any of the cups and I think it’s good for the credibility of the league that the honours are spread about.
“Overall, it does Scottish football no harm in my opinion.”
While this time last year there was cup fever in and around McDiarmid Park, this time the goal is to finish fourth in the league.
That would secure yet another European campaign for St Johnstone, as long as ICT lift the cup.
Saints are right in the thick of a battle with Dundee United, who now sit just one point ahead of them, and Dundee, who are four behind Wright’s team.
They travel to Dens Park to face the Dark Blues on Saturday and, with United not playing Celtic until the following day, a win for Saints would see them leapfrog the Tangerines into the coveted fourth spot.
“There is a massive incentive for both clubs to win on Saturday,” said Wright.
“That fourth place is up for grabs.
“We know how difficult it is to win games in the top six after the split.
“But fourth is there for one of the teams and there could be the possibility of Europe if Inverness win the Scottish Cup.
“It is great for Tayside to have three clubs in the top six and it will give the next few weeks some added excitement.
“It is all to play for.”