Scotland’s clubs continue the road to Hampden this weekend with the Scottish Cup fifth round taking place.
It has always been a special journey with the chance to take part int he season’s showpiece, usually with the sun shining in Mount Florida in May.
But as well as getting their hands on that famous old silver trophy, there is also a pot of gold for this season’s winner.
That’s because it comes with the huge incentive of guaranteed European group stage football.
The team that is triumphant on May 21 at the National Stadium will go into the Europa League play-off round.
Victory at that stage would see them into the group stage of UEFA’s second tier competition but even defeat would result in the consolation of a Conference League group stage place.
It’s a massive carrot, underlined by the fact lat season’s winners St Johnstone failed to reach the group stage after losing in the qualifiers of both the Europa League and Conference League.
That won’t happen next season with the parachute and the prospect of banking around £3 million makes it a lucrative competition this season.
And if the Scottish Cup winners have already qualified for Europe then the Cup winners’ place will then be allocated to the Scottish Premiership third placed side.
That is why it so important with the likes of Aberdeen languishing in ninth place and Hibs boss Shaun Maloney accepting after their midweek defeat to Rangers that fourth is the best they can hope for.
Hearts are 10 points clear of Dundee United and Motherwell in the race to finish best of the rest so there is so much up for grabs in the Scottish Cup.
Aberdeen were the last non-Old Firm side to reach the group stage in continental competition back in 2008.
That was the last time Scotland had three representatives beyond the qualifying stages but are firmly on course to end that lengthy wait.
