The all-Edinburgh Scottish Cup final has had an impact on both Dundee United and St Johnstone as the Tayside duo try to qualify for Europe.
With second-placed Rangers set to be excluded from continental competition next season as a result of their administration, all top-six sides except the Ibrox side could claim Euro slots.
If there is a Hearts win at Hampden Park on May 19 and things stay as they currently are in the SPL, Celtic will play in the Champions League as title winners, with Motherwell taking the other slot in that competition should they hang on to third position.
The Tynecastle men would take the best (ie latest entry) Europa League spot as cup winners, with Saints and United joining them in that tournament but starting off their campaigns earlier.
Success for Hibernian in the final will see Pat Fenlon’s men go into the Europa League in the best qualification slot, leaving a three-way battle between the Perth men, Tangerines and Jam Tarts for the fourth and fifth positions in the SPL, with sixth missing out altogether.
It all adds even more spice to Saturday’s clash between Saints and United at McDiarmid Park.
Tannadice boss Peter Houston has labelled the match as the first of five “cup finals” his team will face between now and the end of the season.
“We have a big game against St Johnstone coming up,” said Houston. “It’s an early kick-off and there will be a big crowd and a good atmosphere.
“We want to put the Aberdeen defeat behind us so I expect a reaction against St Johnstone because they are a good bunch of boys. I know these players have character and their attitude is spot-on.
“We now have five cup finals coming up. We have to approach each game as a one-off occasion.
“We will need to keep winning if we are to get anywhere near Motherwell. Hopefully, we will go into the last game (at Fir Park) with a lot at stake.”