Ruari Paton has sought inspiration from world heavyweight champion boxer Tyson Fury as he looks to land a knockout punch in the SPFL Trust Trophy final.
The Irishman wants to make the most of this opportunity, which will be his first cup final as a professional.
Paton said: “I listened to a Tyson Fury video about how you don’t own anything you just get moments in time. If we go and win the cup, no one will ever take it away from me, everyone here or the supporters.
“They’ll take those moments away for the rest of their lives.
“That’s what is the standout part of being in the cup final for me.”
The 21-year-old added: “People remember the players and teams who win the trophy. When you walk into the Palmerston hallway the first pictures you see are the cup winning sides.
“It’s the day out and everyone gets excited and if you are victorious then people remember you for a long, long time.
“I’m determined to get a picture of myself and the squad up on that wall. I have to go up on the wall beside some Queen of the South legends. Especially, if I ever came back in years to come and look up and look at a memory like that. That’s priceless, there’s no money for stuff like that.”
Paton and other players have said that training has been much the same this week as the manager doesn’t want to build up the final too much.
He said: “I think the gaffer is trying to keep a cool head. It breeds confidence having someone who has done it before and has what it takes. I’m sure he’ll have a lot to say to us about what it felt like winning the cup. It’s a good person to have there.
“I tend to psych myself up before the game. When I get out there everything seems to happen so quickly that I don’t think about nerves. That’s helped me throughout the past few seasons. I’m sure there’ll be nerves, I hope I will be as it shows how important it is.”
With family making the trip to come and watch the Dubliner, Paton is going to give his all to make the starting line-up.
He said: “Everyone is up for it when there’s a cup final on the line. I’m sure everyone else in the squad is dying to play in it because I know I am.
“I’m going to make sure I can do everything because cup finals don’t come along that often.
“We all want to be a part of it. We will be doing whatever we can.”
