QUEEN'S Park fans crossing the city on Saturday to watch their heroes do battle with Scottish champions Celtic will do so in hope, not expectation.

QUEEN'S Park fans crossing the city on Saturday to watch their heroes do battle with Scottish champions Celtic will do so in hope, not expectation.

It is, surely, too much to ask a team who play for no more than the love of the game to cause an upset against a side paid millions for their efforts?

Yet, Malky Mackay, a former Spiders player, coach and president and a current committee man, knows only too well games do not always go according to script in the Scottish Cup.

Malky, father of the former Celtic and Scotland defender of the same name, played for the amateur outfit against the Parkhead giants in the quarter-finals of the competition in 1967.

That was quite a time to be squaring up to Jock Stein's formidable side; they were well on their way to completing a Quadruple which has not been bettered before or since.

Yet, the soon-to-be Lisbon Lions, fresh from securing their spot in the European Cup semi-finals, got a fair old fright against the unpaid enthusiasts of the Hampden outfit.

That was even though Mackay and his team-mates were shaken, if not stirred, by a far from friendly welcome from the home support - as well as from 007 himself - before kick-off.

He remembers: "Celtic had beaten Vojvodina a few days before we played them in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup and a big crowd turned out to congratulate them on their achievement.

"Queen's Park came out of the tunnel first. We were greeted by total silence. You could have heard a pin drop. Then, this almighty roar went up from the Celtic fans. It was deafening.

"We turned around to see none other than Sean Connery running out of the tunnel. I know he is friends with Sir David Murray now and goes to Rangers games, but he was a big Celtic fan back then."

That somewhat bizarre opening to the game did not deter Queen's Park, who snatched a surprise early lead after a solo run from outside- left Malky left several of the home team's players all at sea.

His shot was diverted into the opposition goal by Hoops left-back Tommy Gemmell - a player Mackay knew well from their time together at junior side Coltness United during the early 1960s.

He recalled: "Tommy had bags of potential when we were at Coltness. But he was small and quite slim then and it wasn't obvious he would go on to develop into the player he eventually became.

"But the great thing that Tommy had was dedication. He trained so hard and turned himself into a great talent. But that day he was trying to stop my shot and turned it into his own net."

The unexpected start did not go down well with a home support which had turned out expecting to witness a straightforward progression to the latter stages of another major tournament.

Malky recollects: "I got absolute dog's abuse from the crowd after that goal.

"Now, I am a Catholic and a couple of priests of my acquaintance were at the game. After my goal, a Celtic fan stood up and screamed at me: Ya Orange b******!' One of the priests turned around and told him: No he's not! He's one of us!' "It wasn't long, though, before Celtic were back on level terms. The referee gave them what I thought was a pretty dodgy penalty kick. If I had a gun at that moment I would have shot him!

"After that, they edged ahead. We still gave them a right good game and scored three goals in a 5-3 defeat. We were the only team to score against them in the Scottish Cup that season.

"But Celtic had a great, great team at that time. I remember that Bertie Auld, who had not long come back from Birmingham City, was excellent that afternoon.

"I was up against two of my old school mates as well. Bobby Murdoch, Billy McNeill and I had all gone to Our Lady's High in Motherwell. I knew them reasonably well.

"I had a torrid afternoon against Billy. At one point, I said to him: Mr McNeill, you're trying to kick me instead of the ball!' He replied: Bloody right I am!'"

Despite the defeat, that remains one of Malky's most memorable games from an incredible run in the Queen's Park first team which stretched from 1961 until 1976.

In fact, it was perhaps only topped in 1990 when, with a Hampden XI playing in Bannockburn short of players, he donned his boots again and turned out in the same team as his son.

Mackay is recovering from a hip operation and is unsure if he will be able to attend the Homecoming Scottish Cup fifth-round tie at Parkhead this weekend.

He thinks the current crop of Spiders players will be doing well to emulate the team he played for by giving the Scottish champions a scare.

Malky said: "The boys are doing well to be where they are in the Second Division. Gardner Speirs inherited a team which lost seven players. He is having to rebuild.

"But we beat Aberdeen in the League Cup not that long ago and live in hope."

Queen's men who would be kings of cup shocks ...

By Fraser GibsonQUEEN'S PARK make the short trek to Celtic Park on Saturday as the spotlight hits the Hampden men ahead of their biggest Scottish Cup-tie in years.

It's a Glasgow derby in the last 16 of the competition and the Second Division amateur unknowns will face up to the Parkhead big-name stars.

The bunch of Spiders' students and tradesmen can forget their day jobs for 90 minutes and rub shoulders with Scotland's champions ... with the chance to go down in history by delivering one of football's biggest ever shocks.

DAVID CRAWFORD Highly-rated shotstopper DC, aged 23, has come through the ranks at Hampden and despite his relative youth, has been a first-team regular since 2003. After helping the Spiders to promotion via the Third Division play-offs - with a club record seven successive shut-outs - he spent a season at Dumbarton, but has returned to Queen's to regain the No.1 jersey from Zander Cowie.

MARTIN URE The former Rangers youth has found first-team opportunities limited since arriving from Cumnock Juniors in 2007, but the departures of Paul Paton and on-loan Partick Thistle defender Ricky Little have given the 20-year-old an opportunity to cement a place at right-back.

BARRY DOUGLAS The 19-year-old left-back graduated from Queen's under-19 side who made it to the Scottish Amateur Cup Final last season. 'Buster' has an excellent set-piece delivery with his left foot and scored the equaliser from a free-kick against Stranraer last weekend.

RICHARD SINCLAIR A championship, promotion, relegation and cup shock over Aberdeen, captain Sinky has experienced it all with the Spiders. The 26-year-old stopper has over 170 appearances under his belt, but the plumber has struggled with a back injury this season.

JAMES BROUGH Another player who has stepped up from the Under-19s, 20-year-old Brough has settled well into Senior football, partnering both Sinclair and Damiano Agostini in central defence with aplomb.

TONY QUINN Quinno, 27, is a gnarled veteran of QP, recovering from two leg breaks and spells out of the team to regain has place in the midfield battleground. A real 100% player.

RYAN HOLMS Joined the club from Knighstwood Amateurs this season and was the goal hero in the replay win over Peterhead. The 21-year-old will face Celtic just 23 games into his senior career.

PAUL CAIRNEY The fans have tagged him Paolo di Cairnio, and although he may not quite have the talent of the fiery Italian and former Celt, the Parkhead season ticket holder - on loan at Hampden from Partick Thistle - is relishing a midfield battle with Scott Brown. Still only 21, but has a bright future in the game after coming through the QP ranks.

STEVEN NICHOLAS The striker who once moved from Stirling to Motherwell for £100,000 is one man who has experience of this stage after featuring for Well in the Scottish Premier League a few years ago. The 27-year-old is re-establishing his career at Queen's and has plenty of experience.

PAUL HARKINS The midfielder joined this season from Neilston Juniors and has been a tidy performer for Gardner Speirs' side. Brother of Partick Thistle's Gary, few would have bet on the 20-year-old going further than his sibling in the competition.

IAN WATT Nickname Chucky because of his small stature, the bustling teenage front man will hope to be a nightmare for Celtic defenders. Initially eased into the team this season, the 18-year-old has now been unleashed on the Second Division to decent effect.

PAUL RONALD The man of many clubs, aged 37, has seen limited game time this season but can still do a job in attack if required.

ADAM COAKLEY The 21-year-old former Motherwell striker has been on the fringes of the first team recently.

ROSS DUNLOP Brother of former QP favourite Mick, the midfielder, 19, has not been involved much recently.

STUART McGRADY Ginger-haired former Ayr, Queen of the South and Cumnock front man, aged 23.

ZANDER COWIE Back-up keeper was No.1 for Queen's last season alongside Mark Cairns. 22 years old.

ANDY BOSLEM Young defender, 19, has had limited first-team exposure since coming through ranks.

DAMIANO AGOSTINI Elder statesman has spent a decade at Hampden. Big D started the season in central defence but the 29-year-old has been injured recently.