Raith Rovers captain Jason Thomson reckons the Ramsdens Cup finalists must keep pal Lee Wallace quiet if they are to have any chance against Rangers on Sunday.
Rovers will lock horns with Ally McCoist’s side for silverware at Easter Road in a tie that will see right-back Thomson in direct opposition to former Hearts team-mate Wallace.
The match will also give Thomson a chance to catch up with one-time Tynecastle colleagues Ian Black and David Templeton, although the Rangers pair are major doubts through injury.
Left-back Wallace has again shone on the pitch for the Ibrox club as they cantered to the League One title and Thomson knows the marauding defender will pose a big threat to Rovers’ hopes of causing an upset.
Thomson, who moved to Stark’s Park in summer 2012, said: “Lee has been one of the stand-out players for Rangers this season and I reckon if we can stop him, we’ll have half a chance.
“I still keep in touch with him, we both made the breakthrough together at Hearts as 17-year-olds.
“He made his debut just before me. He went on to get his move, although it didn’t quite work out for me, but since leaving Hearts I’ve enjoyed my football because I’ve been playing.
“You always knew Lee was going to move on and do well, he is fit and strong and has a great left-foot. He has a lot of things going for him. I obviously know the likes of Temps and Blackie from my time at Hearts too.
“They all got their moves because they’re good players. I’ve come up against them enough times in training to know how hard it is going to be.
“They were the ones usually playing in the first team so I was often on the side that would act as the opposition in training.”
Rovers returned to winning ways at Alloa on Saturday to move six points clear of the Championship relegation play-off place and Thomson hopes they will now be able to enjoy this week’s build-up to the final.
He added: “Everyone is going to be in high spirits, especially after winning at the weekend. The result on Saturday might have been more important than this game coming up because it’s quite tight at the bottom.
“We’re not out of it yet but at least that win gives us some breathing space. We might not have been able to enjoy the build-up so much had we been beaten at Alloa.”