Peterhead captain Steven Noble is already dreaming about leading his team out at a national cup final, but knows his side can’t afford to underestimate Queen’s Park today if he is to make that goal a reality.
The Blue Toon meet Gus MacPherson’s League 2 side at Hampden this afternoon in the semi-finals of the Petrofac Training Cup.
The winners will face either Rangers or St Mirren in the final on Sunday, April 10.
Noble, pictured, who has been at Balmoor since 2012, said: “It is a massive game for the club. I don’t know how many of the players have played in a national semi-final before so it is a great game to look forward to.
“It would be something very special if we were to make it to the final. When my playing career is over, it would be nice to be able to look back on that moment with pride.
“I imagine most people would be hoping for a cup final against Rangers because of the size of the club, but St Mirren is my local team so that would also be special for me.
“However, our focus is on the semi-final. We have to enjoy the occasion and do our best. But there is no doubt it would be great to take the club to a final.”
Noble was pleased with the way his side responded to its stunning defeat by Stenhousemuir – when it was 3-0 up and lost 4-3 – by holding title favourites Dunfermline to a goal-less draw on Saturday.
He said: “We needed that after the disappointment of the Stenhousemuir game.
“It was pleasing to get a clean sheet and a point, but I thought the performance was good enough to merit taking something from the match. I don’t think there was any injustice on Dunfermline that it finished in a draw.
“We could have nicked it so to take a point off the team which is the big favourites to go up was a good sign. It gives us a bit of confidence going into this weekend.”
Queen’s Park’s semi-final preparations were not as positive as the Spiders suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat at bottom club East Stirling.
But Noble is not taking the Glasgow side lightly.
He added: “I don’t know who was the better team but everyone will have regarded that result as a surprise.
“I have a couple of friends who play for Clyde and they have told me Queen’s Park are a good team.
“The manager Gus MacPherson has got them playing some good football and there has been a big turnaround since he took over.
“He has taken them from the bottom of the league to being back up there challenging in League 2, which is where they were when we were in that league.
“We know we can’t underestimate them and they have home advantage as well.
“Hampden is a lot different to a lot of the other grounds we play at as the pitch is so big. They will be more used to that but we are feeling confident and have the players to win the game.”