TOMMY SLOAN is under no illusion as to the enormity of the challenge that awaits his Auchinleck Talbot players in tomorrow's Scottish Cup final clash against Musselburgh Athletic.

He has personally run the rule over the East Region opponents and is warning his players to pay no heed to bookmakers odds rating the Ayrshiremen as overwhelming favourites to get their hands on the coveted silverware for an astonishing 11th time.

He revealed: "I took in a recent game when Musselburgh left out several regular starters but I saw enough to know they are a formidable side and are not coming through to Rugby Park just to make up the numbers.

"It's easy to see why Jordan Sheerin is close to notching 40 goals for the season as he's a very mobile and direct striker and his forward-line partner Steven Thomson is someone I recall from being a threat when he played for Bonnyrigg Rose.

"And they also possess decent creative types in Jackie Myles and Darren Smith as well as good legs throughout their team to go along with a physicality that could spell problems at set plays.

"To appear twice in four years at the final stage shows they are a cup team and a huge part of their motivation will revolve around being written off by all and sundry so we cannot allow ourselves to be undone by complacency.

"Thankfully our defeat in the 2012 cup final by Shotts is still relatively raw as I'd like to think those painful memories of what can happen if players do not perform to their best on the day will serve us well.

"Musselburgh have only one player remaining from their 2011 cup squad whereas we have six in Butch, Latta, Spence, Leishman, Whitey and McGoldrick, but that experience will count for nothing if their players are more hungry for success than ours."

The Talbot boss reports a clean bill of health on the playing front ahead of him getting down to finalising his final line-up.

He said: "Preparations have gone well and everyone is fit or should I say instead that every player has given the thumbs up and put themselves forward for selection to leave me with difficult decisions to make and I will need time to carefully mull things over in my head before naming our team."

"Some of our best displays have come in the cup this season ... Irvine Meadow, Banks O'Dee and Bonnyrigg all away from home come to mind and I would hate for us now to fall at the last hurdle so picking the right team for the day is crucial."

He was not for revealing his playing hand thoughts, however one cannot help but think there are definite picks in goalkeeper Andy Leishman and outstanding centre-back pairing Mark Campbell and Martin McGoldrick, while at the other end of the pitch David Gormley (arguably the best striker in the Juniors) and Keir Milliken look set to fill the striking jerseys assuming Tucker goes for a 4-4-2 formation.

Versatile skipper Latta will have a position as will the skilful Young, Gordon Pope and goalscoring midfielder Dwayne Hyslop, but after that it really is anyone's guess how Sloan will fill the two remaining jerseys from the talented permutation of Graham Wilson, Willie Lyle, Colin Spence, Willie Boyd, Ally Park, Steven White and precocious talents Mark Shankland, Declan Lavan and Lee Cochrane.

It's a task nobody should envy him...