AS time interminably marches on, Falkirk captain David McCracken is a man in a hurry.
At 33 years of age, the former Dundee United defender is not ready to be put out to pasture just yet; however, he is honest enough to acknowledge that tomorrow afternoon's encounter with Hibernian could represent his last opportunity to secure a place in the Scottish Cup final.
McCracken's relationship with Hampden Park has been a joyless one, succumbing to two comprehensive defeats and, perhaps more painfully, enduring a galling snub for what would have been the most prestigious outing of his career.
He suffered a 3-0 defeat against Celtic in the League Cup semi-final of 2003 and - two years later, at the same stage of the same tournament - was on the wrong end of a humiliating 7-1 reverse against Rangers. Any hope of absolution at the national stadium was then snatched away in 2005 when he was left on the bench for United's 1-0 Scottish Cup final defeat against Celtic.
Nevertheless, as he enjoys an Indian summer as the experienced head in a vibrant, youthful Falkirk side, McCracken is 90 minutes away from finally securing his day in the sun.
"I didn't play in the 2005 final with Dundee United. I had been out injured with a dislocated elbow and come back a few games before it," he recalled. "But the gaffer brought Garry Kenneth back in.
"At the time, being one of the more experienced players, I thought I had a good chance of playing even though I had been out for a wee while. I still felt fit enough but it was unfortunate it never happened.
"I lost [League Cup] semis to Celtic and Rangers at Hampden as well so I want to rectify that.
"You appreciate it more, the older you get, and you realise there might not be as many opportunities to reach a final, absolutely.
"I have been telling the lads in the dressing room that they need to take advantage of these things. It might not happen for another seven or eight years. You need to take advantage when you are in this position."
McCracken certainly has no fears regarding Falkirk's ability to go toe to toe with Hibs tomorrow afternoon, lavishing praise upon Peter Houston's talented young group.
Indeed, he appears visibly energised by his role as an experienced head within a raw dressing room. "The two years I have been here, the standard of player is frightening, considering how young they are," he said. "Some of the boys in the team just now are teenagers, like Craig Sibbald, and others who have moved on like [Conor] McGrandles and [Jay] Fulton are tremendous.
"Sibbald, for example, has great skill and it's only a matter of time before he plays at a higher level. When he does get a move he will kick on again and be a great player.
"He's like a lot of the young boys here. They take things on board and you give Craig something to do he takes it on board."
That guidance, one suspects, could extend to career advice, given the likes of Sibbald, Alston and Luke Leahy are unlikely to be short of suitors after enjoying fine personal campaigns.
"It has to be the right time for the player, but to try and play in different leagues is a positive thing," he noted, following his own spells with Wycombe, MK Dons and Brentford. "I could probably have left United two years before it. I maybe stayed too long but when I moved it helped my game.
"You progress by playing against different players, rather than just playing in the same league, the same team and the same players."
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