TWO years ago, Greg Docherty was on the outside looking in. Sitting on his hands and a comfy seat in the Hampden hospitality section, the then Hamilton Academical midfielder and lifelong Rangers fan was put through the emotional wringer watching his team defy the odds.

It was a familiar feeling of helplessness that gripped Docherty on an afternoon dripping with drama. In a Scottish Cup semi-final with Celtic, Rangers, then a division below their rivals, twice led during normal and extra-time before Mark Warburton’s team came out on top after penalties. The victory, the Ibrox club’s last against their Glasgow adversaries, was a triumph against adversity that the 21-year-old is relishing the prospect of influencing a week today.

Celtic and Rangers will clash on the same stage in the same cup and Docherty, now with 11 Rangers games including an Old Firm clash under his belt since joining in January, reckons the experience of swapping his prawn sandwich for the pitch will bring about a far less stressful experience.

“I’ve never played at Hampden, the only place I’ve not played. Not against Queen’s Park and Hamilton never got anywhere. So I’m looking forward to that,” he said. “I’ve been many times as a fan. It doesn’t faze me going to experience Hampden for the first time. I’m looking forward to it.

“I was there three years ago for the semi-final. That was a special day, the first win in a long time. To see the players celebrating after, everyone had such a good buzz about it. So that’s something that will be on my mind as well, wanting to emulate that.

“If someone said to me after that game that I could be playing for Rangers in the next one against Celtic then I’d have bitten their hand off for that option. Joining a club like this, you know these are the games that are going to come around. These are the ones that you want. This is a club that needs success.

“I think everyone here knows that. We are all raring to go. It’s two totally different teams from that game a few years ago. I think every Old Firm is different so it won’t even be like the one I played in the other week if I’m fortunate enough to play in it again.

“As a fan I watched it and knew what it meant to win it. I’ll be wanting to win it even more as a player, that’s for sure.

“I was quite calm because I had to be respectful to the team I was playing for at the time. I wasn’t really in with the fans, I was invited with my dad to hospitality. I had to be respectful to Hamilton but, of course, I was very happy inside.”

Docherty has quickly found himself a key part of Graeme Murty’s starting XI over the last three months. Jason Holt and Andy Halliday both cannot get a look in due to the form of the youngster who was long a shining starlet at the Superseal Stadium.

“I’m lucky that the manager has shown faith in me. Even if my form has dipped, he has stuck by me,” said Docherty, who could play his first ever game at Hampden if he retains his place in the side next week. “I think there’s a lot more to come from me. I’m still learning every day and getting used to my new environment.

“I believe I can offer this team a lot more and that will come with the more games I play. I’m looking forward to playing every game and see each one as a learning curve. Hopefully I can contribute more and become a mainstay in the team.

“I’ve been fortunate in the sense that there were injuries and suspensions that allowed me to come in and I’ve managed to keep my place. I know there’s now guys breathing down my neck and I have to perform at a good level.

“That’s good because I came to this club to have this type of pressure to push me on. That’s what I want. There’s no comfort zone at a club like Rangers. I did have an idea of that because I’m a fan, but we have a real quality dressing room and you know you have to perform to the maximum every day. Your place is never guaranteed.”

Murty is similarly excited about his Hampden bow. Despite racking up four caps during his Scotland playing career, not one of them was earned by gracing the turf at the national stadium. Now going there as a manager, the Rangers head coach is looking forward to the occasion of leading out Rangers in an Old Firm semi-final.

“I pinch myself when you say that,” he said. “My first experience of an Old Firm game was at Hampden and seeing the intensity, the fervour, the sound. It was a spectacular day. I’m really looking forward to it but it’s my job to make sure that the players get on to the football pitch in as perfect a state as they can be in to go out and perform.

“You’re further away from the crowd.

“I must say the noise that hit me [at Ibrox] when we scored the goal after three or four minutes I’ve never experienced anything like it. Being that bit removed I believe will allow me a bit more clarity in my thoughts to concentrate on remaining calm and giving the guys what they need if that’s what I need to do.

“Other than that it will be a new experience for me. I’ll be like a sponge, I’ll soak everything up and hopefully the output will match the needs of the tie.”