Falkirk

Manager John McGlynn says leading Falkirk out at a Scottish Cup final would represent the “pinnacle” of his career as the club prepare for a crucial last-four tie against Dunfermline Athletic this weekend.

The Scottish Premiership side face Neil Lennon’s men at Hampden on Saturday at 12:30 BST – live on the BBC – with a place in May’s showpiece at stake.

McGlynn has already led Falkirk to a top-six finish in the Premiership this term after securing back-to-back promotions from the third tier of Scottish football.

However, the 64-year-old is determined to cap a stunning season with the first major silverware of his managerial career.

“It would be a great honour to take the team out in a Scottish Cup final,” McGlynn told BBC Scotland. “For myself, [assistant coaches] Paul Smith and Steven McGinn, and all the backroom staff, it would reflect all the work that’s been put in.

“To take the team into the Premiership, be in a strong position and reach a Scottish Cup final – that would be the pinnacle of our careers.

“We know we’ll have to work extremely hard to get there and maybe need a bit of luck along the way, but walking out at Hampden for a final would be a very proud moment.

“We can’t look beyond Dunfermline. If we get through, then anything can happen.”

But here come the discrepancies. As well as the Dundee derby, United will have one other home game after the split but all four of Aberdeen, Killie, Livi and St Mirren have been to Tannadice in the league twice already this season. One will have to make a third trip, though it is unlikely to be north-east rivals Aberdeen.

There is a similar dilemma with Kilmarnock. They are due to have two home games, with probably one of those against United.

However, Aberdeen, Dundee and St Mirren have all already been to Rugby Park twice this season. One of those three will need to make a third trip to East Ayrshire.

Bottom side Livi should travel to St Mirren, but they have already visited each of Aberdeen, Dundee, United and Killie twice and will face a third trip to one of those four clubs.

Livi are 11 points adrift and would be a maximum of 14 points adrift with five games to go if they lose their last game before the split – hence, while favourites for automatic relegation, it will not be arithmetically confirmed until after the post-split fixtures are announced and at least one round of them have been played.

No matter which way you cut it, the SPFL faces an unenviable task in scheduling the Premiership’s final five rounds of fixtures.

After this weekend’s games, the Premiership will take a two-week hiatus to accommodate the Scottish Cup semi-finals.

Then, from the weekend of 25 and 26 April, it is top-six and bottom-six fixtures through until mid-May, with the cup final and relegation play-off taking place thereafter.