EXPECTATIONS in sport have been the downfall of many but Newtonmore will approach today's RBS MacTavish Cup final with Glen Urquhart more than capable of handling the weight.

Paul John MacKintosh's men have had to come to terms, over the years, with the unique pressures that come with life in a village where winning is king.

In this half of Badenoch there are extended blood lines of predecessors who have all played - and won - in blue and white; stalwarts who still attend games with the understanding that victory is simply the 'Newtonmore way'.

For the generations which follow, this can prove hard to bear. Indeed, when neighbours Kingussie spent two decades in ascendency, not all that long ago, photographs of past glories carried pain and pleasure in equal measure.

However, the captain Cameron Binnie admits things have changed at the club. What was once a millstone is now a badge of honour and that is why today's incumbents of the famous jersey will not be fazed one bit by their pre-match billing as overwhelming favourites.

"Winning is a habit and we are in it now," says Binnie; a man you would hang your hat on in a one-to-one situation anywhere across the centre line. "We just need to keep that going now. There is a massive expectation at the club and that is where history comes into play. Your grandad, your father, your relations all expect you to do well and that is the environment most of the players today grew up in.

"That is why they continue to do well because it is expected of them. A good generation of players makes the next generation better because they are playing against these players week in and week out in training and trying to get their position on a Saturday."

What's the moral, then, of Binnie's story?

"Iron sharpens iron," he says.

It seems he has a point. Just as Newtonmore have proved, though, with five successive Premierships that they have the mettle for the battle, they also know that records will mean nothing at 4.05pm when the first final of the 2015 season throws up at Bught Park.

Although they have dished out 4-0 and 5-1 defeats to Glen Urquhart already this season, the psychological advantage doesn't just rub one way when it comes to one-offs.

Glen, too, have form. For the past two terms, they have been the side to kill off Newtonmore's dreams in the semi-final stage of this very competition.

It is something which is not lost on Blairbeg Park captain Andrew Corrigan, who will be impressing this very point on the younger charges within the red-and-black ranks.

"I don't know if there is a recipe to defeating Newtonmore but, if anyone has it, it is probably ourselves," says the former Scotland man, who spends half his year working on oil platforms in the North Sea.

"We did it in the two semi-finals and once in the league last year so we can take encouragement from that. Physically, we are probably one of the best placed teams to handle them. We are big guys, just like they are, and we are able to mix it with them. If we can compete in this way and restrict their chances, we have a chance."

With 41 goals to their credit already, Newtonmore have the upper hand in firepower.

However, battle-hardened players like John Barr in the Glen defence will be well aware of the dangers. It's all in the melting pot.