Frazer Wright has vowed that the St Johnstone players will “leave nothing on the park” in their bid for Scottish Cup glory.
The centre-back is nearer the end than the beginning of his career and, as such, will treat the Dundee United match as his one shot at lifting the trophy.
“It’s massive for me,” he pointed out. “Everyone wants to play in the Scottish Cup final. It’s the biggest game of the season.
“I played in a League Cup final at Kilmarnock when we were pumped 5-1 by Hibs. But the build-up wasn’t as high profile as this.
“I’ve always wanted to play in the Scottish Cup final. I’ve been jealous of players involved in the final, seeing the likes of Gretna and Queen of the South involved.
“You wonder if you’ll ever get a chance. I’ve had pals involved in the past and you do envy them. Wee David Graham, who was at Stranraer with me, was at Gretna when they went to the final.
“It’s good that it is coming now because being realistic at my age you wonder if it is your last chance. I wondered if it was ever going to come round.
“We’ll leave nothing on the park. This is my one chance to win the Scottish Cup. At Rangers and Celtic you get a few chances but not at a club like St Johnstone.
“Against Aberdeen you could see guys like wee Chrissy Millar and Cuptie running themselves into the ground. We have to take that attitude into the final. It’s win at all costs. We have to do it.”
Wright broke a bone in his thumb the last time he played United in the league, and it’s been a case of managing his return to the team since.
“I just fell on it,” he recalled.
“I’ve just had to let it heal and I’ve got a protector on it for support. If I had a cast I’d be taking it off. We discussed that and if it had been necessary I’d have worn it in the build-up to the game and had it cut off in the morning.
“There’s no way I’d have missed a Scottish Cup final because of a bone in my hand.
“The plan had been to play me against Inverness and not Celtic last week. But Dave Mackay and Brian Easton weren’t risked against Celtic so I stepped in.
“The Celtic game was probably a better one to play in because it was a bit more intense. It has worked out fine.”
The Saints players won’t let three wins in a row against United lull them into a false sense of security, but Wright is unsure if recent form will play on their opponents’ minds.
He said: “To us it’s irrelevant that we have beaten them three times this season. I don’t know how it will affect them.
“As a defender if a striker has scored in the last three games against us then it is preying on your mind.
“You know you’re going to be in for a tough game,” he said.