Referee Willie Collum will fulfil a lifetime's ambition when he officiates at the William Hill Scottish Cup final for the first time this weekend.
The 34-year-old is one of Scottish football's most experienced match officials and has taken charge of a number of high profile matches at international level and in the Champions League and the Europa League.
He was also the man in the middle for last season's Scottish Communities League Cup final but has never experienced the Scottish Cup final as the main official.
Speaking ahead of Sunday's clash between Celtic and Hibernian, Collum said: "It's the biggest accolade that any referee can receive domestically.
"When I came into refereeing in 1993, I would never have imagined getting the chance to referee the national final - it's every referee's ambition.
"Many people ask, 'What is your ambition in refereeing?'.
"That has been my ambition, to referee the national final, so it will be a great occasion.
"I hope it's a great sporting occasion and it's remembered for the right reasons.
"I hope there are plenty of goals and plenty of action and I hope people are talking about the players and the match rather than talking about the referee team at the end of the day."
On the potential for stick from fans, he added: "I always tell people that we use a phrase in refereeing that sometimes we are required to make the unpopular decisions.
"I'm not there to be popular. I'd be better on the X Factor then, although I don't think I'd be very good on that.
"At the end of the day, we make what we hope is the right decision.
"Sometimes it leaves people disappointed but it's important that we are there to make the right call and that the other five guys will support me in making that."
Collum will be aided in this match by the use of goal-line assistants - Bobby Madden and John Beaton - for the first time in a competitive Scottish game.
He said: "They are two guys I've worked with on five occasions this season; four times in the Champions League and recently in a quarter-final of the Europa League.
"They are very experienced FIFA referees themselves and they will lend a big support.
"I know the perception at times in the media is that these guys behind the goal don't do anything because they're restricted in terms of signalling.
"But, I can tell you, they are a very big support to me in terms of picking up things in the penalty area and also giving support and tactical advice, telling me to watch things behind my back, so they are a big part of the team on the day."
Asked if he would like to see the system used more widely in Scottish football, Collum added: "I won't be involved in that decision-making process about bringing additional assistant referees in domestically.
"But my experience in Europe has been very positive with them.
"Recently, in a European match, one of the additional assistants correctly called a big penalty call so that was important for us.
"I've found them very beneficial. Anything that can help us get the right decisions is surely beneficial to the game."
The English Premier League last month voted in favour of introducing goal-line technology for the 2013-14 season.
Collum said: "I've never been involved in the goal-line technology. I've never had the experience of working with that system.
"What I can speak for is the additional assistants and they are very positive in helping me."
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