A potentially money-spinning Europa League place is on the line when Motherwell take to the field against Celtic in today’s Scottish Cup final.

But as far as Stephen Robinson is concerned, cash won’t even come into the equation for a second. The Northern Irishman knows the only thing which will drive the Lanarkshire side on is the chance to take a shortcut into club legend status. 

“Europe could be huge for us,” he said. “There’s a different calibre of team you could face now and it’s a massive incentive. But I don’t think the boys need any bigger incentive though. For our boys it’s not about the money. It’ the prestige. It’s the chance to become legends at this football club.”

Read more: Motherwell hero Steve Kirk grateful to be here for chance to witness Hampden history​

As far as that is concerned, the Lanarkshire side’s class of ’91 wrote the book when it came to that. Their 4-3 injury-time victory against a Dundee United side then in the midst of a cup hoodoo living long in the memory, even if it is given added poignancy by the deaths of Phil O’Donnell and Davie Cooper, and squad members Jamie Dolan and Paul McGrillen.

“In terms of the football club, winning the cup would be absolutely huge,” Robinson added. “You still hear people speaking of the 1991 squad that won the cup and they are revered around the football club. In terms of management it would be the biggest thing I had ever achieved. And I would imagine that would be the case for all of our players. They have all come from non-league teams, under-23 teams and League Two. None of them have played at any real level in the game and it would be a huge achievement for us.

“There is no pressure on us. It is win win for us. “We have exceeded all expectations this season. We are going to go and enjoy the day if that is possible. We will try and take it all in but the only way you really enjoy it is with a victory and bringing the cup home. It’s a one-off game and anything can happen. People say things are impossible in sport, but I think Leicester City and Northern Ireland have proved that’s not the case.”

Read more: On the brink of a double treble and history with Celtic, but a fear of failure still stalks Brendan Rodgers

While Robinson is correct to say that today is a ‘one-off’ game, there have been four other meetings in the league this season where the Fir Park side haven’t succeeded in getting the victory. What Robinson can derive from this back catalogue, though, is a fairly extensive highlight reel which  demonstrates how to get limited success against them in stages of each of the games. 

‘What’s inspired me is our first-half performance when we went down to 10 men at Fir Park. As well as that, the game where we lost a penalty in the last minute when we were beating them. There is no point looking at Aberdeen, because we haven’t got Aberdeen’s players. We have to look at ourselves and how we caused them problems and how we can do that again. any games we have watched back and the clips we have used to give our boys the belief you speak about has all been Celtic’s games against us.”

They certainly shouldn’t freeze on the big occasion, on what is their fifth visit to Hampden this season, taking in an early League Cup visit to play Queen’s Park. “It is the fifth time we have been here, that includes one right at the start against Queen’s Park,” he said.

“The boys are accustomed to the surroundings and I don’t think it is going to faze them. We showed we can deal with that in two big semi-finals against Rangers and Aberdeen in front of big crowds so I think we are over that now – as Celtic are because they are also in these sort of occasions on a regular basis. I am sure we will be able to hand it.

“There is a real belief in our squad, there always is,” he adds. “We have nothing to fear from anybody. We are very respectful and we know Celtic are a very good side with individuals who can win the game but we have also caused them problems.”