AS integral members of Aston Villa's backroom team, Kevin MacDonald and Tony Parks will be focused on the meeting with Arsenal in the FA Cup final today.

The Midlands club finished just one place and three points above the relegation zone in the Premier League in England this season and are surprise participants at Wembley.

Tim Sherwood, will require the undivided attention of both MacDonald and Parks, not to mention an exceptional display from his players, to prevent Arsene Wenger's strongly-fancied side retaining the trophy.

Yet, the Villa coaches will both permit their thoughts to stray fleetingly to the match being played north of Hadrian's Wall during the build-up to kick-off early this evening.

Assistant manager MacDonald, a one-time midfielder who helped Liverpool win the league and cup double in 1986, was born and raised in Inverness and started out in the game there with Highland League club Caledonian.

Meanwhile, goalkeeping coach Parks, a 1984 UEFA Cup final penalty shoot-out hero and winner with Spurs, played for Falkirk for four years during a lengthy professional career which saw him represent no fewer than 15 clubs.

The pair's priority is ensuring that underdogs Villa defy the odds against the strong bookmakers' favourites Arsenal and lift the FA Cup for the first time in no fewer than 58 years.

However, the Scotsman and the Englishman will take great delight if their favoured clubs prevail in the Scottish Cup final and will be furtively monitoring events at Hampden.

"It's quite a bizarre situation for two of the lads on the coaching staff at FA Cup finalists Aston Villa to have connections to the two teams involved in the Scottish Cup final," said Parks.

"I really enjoyed my time at Falkirk and, like other clubs I have played for or been involved with over the years, I always look out for their results.

"I'm obviously desperate for Falkirk to win while Kevin grew up in Inverness and is a huge fan of that football club. There has been a fair bit of banter between us since the two teams reached the final.

"We'll be preparing for the FA Cup final while the Scottish Cup final is being played, but I'm sure we will have half an eye on it. I'll be delighted if they win."

Despite leaving Inverness for Leicester City nearly 40 years ago, former midfielder MacDonald still retains a close connection with the club and a strong affection for the city.

"I'm still friends with the groundsman Tommy Cumming," he said. "He was the kit man when I played there. I always check to see how they have done on a Saturday.

"I'm delighted how well the club has done since they amalgamated over 20 years ago now. What they have done for the whole area is fantastic.

"It's a tourist place, but now people also know it for the football club. If they were to win a competition that would be unbelievable."

The last occasion that Falkirk lifted the Scottish Cup was back in 1957 - when Villa last won the English equivalent - and Parks is hopeful that is a good omen.

"I'm aware of the fact that the last time Aston Villa won the FA Cup Falkirk actually won the Scottish Cup," he said. "Let's hope history repeats itself. It is a great football club with some fine people."

Villa's chances of success have been boosted by Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given recovering from a groin injury and being cleared to play.

Sherwood also expects to have injury doubts Kieran Richardson (calf), Jores Okore (knee) and Aly Cissokho (groin) available for selection.

The former Spurs manager is hopeful 19-year-old Jack Grealish, who starred in the 2-1 win over Liverpool at Wembley in the semi-final last month, rises to the occasion once again.

"He has coped with the pressure up until now," said Sherwood. "When he is asked to step up he has ticked the boxes. The bigger the stage the better he's been."

Aaron Ramsey, who scored the extra-time winner for Arsenal in the 3-2 win over Hull City in the final last year, believes retaining the FA Cup could lead to greater success in the future.

"Hopefully we can win the FA Cup this year," said Ramsey. "If we do, then that'll be two things in two years so hopefully we can just keep that run of winning things going.

"Getting to back-to-back finals isn't an easy thing to achieve. In the second half of the season we have shown the form that we need throughout the season to win this league.

"We certainly showed that we are capable of going on these big runs and not losing too many games.

"If we can just show that consistency throughout the season then we'll be challenging for the Premier League, and that's what we'll be looking to do next year."