Scottish Cup: The Spartans v Hearts - Kevin Waugh aiming to upset his heroes

Any other year, The Spartans captain Kevin Waugh would be willing Heart of Midlothian to head to Hampden and lift the Scottish Cup.

The 25-year-old grew up in a sea of maroon, surrounded by friends and family who were quick to call Tynecastle home. Even when he was behind 'enemy lines' as a youngster at Hibernian, there was no concealing that his allegiances lay in Gorgie.

Now though, as his boyhood club kick off their cup campaign at the SPFL's new kids on the block - live on BBC One Scotland - there's no room for loyalty.

"I think most people know I'm a massive Hearts fan," Waugh said. "My whole family are Hearts fans. There's no hiding place.

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"When the draw was made, I was jumping up and down in my living room as if I'd just won the lottery. It was incredible. You couldn't peel me off the ceiling for two or three days.

"It would definitely go down as the best result in my career. I would always want them to be the ones up there lifting the Scottish Cup come May, but this year, I'd just rather it was somebody else's name on the trophy because it was Spartans who knocked them out."

Doing so might put Waugh in the bad books of his pals, desperate to see the famous old trophy return to Tynecastle for the first time in 12 years.

The Scottish Cup will be the talk of the Hearts supporters making the short journey to Anslie Park in the low winter sun on Saturday afternoon. But lingering at the back of those maroon minds at the moment is the future of Lawrence Shankland.

Spartans were promoted to the SPFL last May, beating Albion Rovers in the promotion play-offs.

Centre-half Waugh tussled with the Premiership's top scorer well before he became the talisman for the team he loves. Shankland was not the coveted striker he is today, but still managed to leave his mark on that low-profile occasion.

"I've actually played against him before," said Waugh. "He won't remember it, but when he was on loan at St Mirren, I played against him in a reserve game for Hibs. We beat them 2-1, so I'd take the scoreline again.

"That being said, he did score from the halfway line, so we'll need to try and keep that quiet.

"He's an incredible footballer. He's been magnificent for Hearts, he's definitely my favourite player in the squad. I'd say I'll be in awe of him, but I won't be for the 90 minutes.

"I'll be doing my job and trying to keep him as quiet as possible, but not too many people have been able to do that this season."

'Spartans is a family'

While League Two Spartans are obvious underdogs this weekend, they are a club riding a wave of momentum.

A commanding Lowland League triumph last season - followed by navigating the promotion play-offs by beating Brechin City and ending Albion Rovers' 120-year stay in the top-four divisions - finally gave the ambitious capital outfit their place in the big time.

They have taken to life in the leagues like a duck to water, putting themselves in with a real shout of contesting the League One play-offs.

The man overseeing their success is practically part of the furniture. Dougie Samuel has been at the helm for more than 12 years, making him the SPFL's longest-serving manager by a country mile. At a time when longevity in football in scarce, it is some going.

That tenure has covered more than just picking the team and making substitutions, but also cultivating a community club that genuinely makes a difference to those in need in the local area.

"It's a family," Samuel said. "We set out to create a social home. We want to create a space for the community and provide a range of services that support local families.

"I think people have been patient and they've had a long-term vision. For us, it was about doing things incrementally and organically. I always felt it was a matter of time before this club achieved its destiny of playing in the leagues."

Fulfilling their ambitions has not come without bumps in the road. Samuel - the figurehead of the operation - had his world rocked when he suffered a heart attack in the middle of a spin class in 2018.

"When something like that happens to you, it gives you perspective," he said. "It forces you to evaluate and I did that.

"Fortunately, I can still contribute to the foundation and be at the front of this amazing football club during the most successful period in its history."

A Scottish Cup scalp on Saturday would add extra gloss to the shining Spartans. Shock their Edinburgh neighbours and this community club's reach will extend far beyond Pilton.

"Everyone knows it's a huge challenge," Samuel added. "They're the third-best team in Scotland and they're flying right now. If we can land a meaningful punch, then who knows what can happen.

"The beauty of cup football is that every now and again, a Darvel comes along. Of course the players should dream of that. We should approach the game with hope and not fear."