Aberdeen are aiming to end a 27-year drought in the Scottish Cup.

Sir Alex Ferguson won the trophy four times in five years during the 1980s but the Dons have been stuck on seven successes since 1990, while this is their first appearance in a final since 2000.

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Pat Bonner
Former Celtic goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound

Aberdeen finished their league campaign with a thumping 6-0 win at Firhill last weekend, taking them to a record points tally of 76, with 24 wins and four draws from their 38 outings.

Celtic were still miles ahead, reaching a new milestone of 106 points, with a 30-point winning margin also a new record.

They were the first team to complete a league campaign unbeaten since the 18-game campaigns of the late 19th Century.

There was a new record for wins: 34, and for goals: 106, while the title was wrapped up with eight games to spare - yet another new best.

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Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes tells BBC Scotland that Jayden Stockley has been selected ahead of Adam Rooney due to the physical presence he brings to the side, having featured against Celtic in the recent 3-1 defeat at Pittodrie.

“I felt in the last game at Pittodrie Jayden had an influence and allowed us to get up the pitch. He occupies defenders a bit more. Adam played in the League Cup final (defeat to Celtic) and he was too detached. We never got bodies close to him. I think at Pittodrie it was our most effective display (against Celtic) in an attacking sense. Jayden’s presence will hopefully let us gain some territory.

"We’ve picked a team we believe can win the game."

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers tells BBC Scotland there was no need to make changes up top, despite the return of Moussa Dembele from injury.

"Moussa has been out since 27 April and he’s done great to get back but the team is in a good moment. Leigh Griffiths is scoring goals and playing well so there’s no need to change it.

"It means we have a really strong bench, should we need it."

And on the possibility of winning the treble, Rodgers adds: “It’s huge, but we’ve tried not to think about it. Celtic has a great record in this competition and we want to honour that tradition. It’s a wonderful tournament. It would mark a fantastic season for us."

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Did I mention Celtic were chasing a treble? The champions last managed a domestic clean sweep in 2000-01, which was Martin O'Neill's debut season.

Jock Stein managed it twice, in 1967 and 1969.

A win today would put Brendan Rodgers in exalted company.

Rangers were the last team to do it in Scotland, in 2003, taking them to seven trebles - a global record.

Following a couple of days of glorious sunshine, the rain is absolutely crashing down at Hampden.

No team in Scotland has managed it since Brendan Rodgers took over...

Sportscene pundits Michael Stewart and Steven Thompson look for clues that could help Aberdeen today.

Willie Miller
Former Aberdeen captain on BBC One Scotland

Sunderland fans may be keeping an eye on this one, with Aberdeen gaffer Derek McInnes mooted as a possible replacement for David Moyes.

Former Rangers boss Walter Smith is understood to be advising Stadium of Light chief executive Martin Bain on the appointment and the 69-year-old publicly backed McInnes when the Ibrox manager's role was vacant earlier this year.

"Honestly, it's been no distraction whatsoever," said McInnes, who spent 14 months in charge at Bristol City before moving to Pittodrie.

"At this stage of the season a lot of English clubs have finished up and when there are managerial changes and there are players moving on or players going out of contract, there's loads of speculation."

'Perfect fit'

While McInnes was reluctant to discuss a possible move down south, his opposite number was giving him a glowing reference.

Asked about the Sunderland media gossip, Brendan Rodgers said: "He is absolutely perfect for it

"It’s a big club that has had a change and now needs someone who can go in there and can organise, someone who has been at a big club. Derek has been at big clubs. He played at Rangers, he has been down in England before, so he understands it. He has done a great job with Aberdeen, which is a big club.

"He would go in, give them a bit of life, get them organised. He knows the game, he can engage with players, he can motivate players, and the Championship is a tough league. I got promoted there with Swansea and it is 46 games of graft and work and commitment. It would be brilliant for him if that is what he wanted to do."

Let's chew over those starting line-ups in more detail.

As expected, Scotland striker Leigh Griffiths retains his place up front for Celtic despite Moussa Dembele making an earlier-than-expected return from a hamstring injury.

The Frenchman is, however, on the bench.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers makes only one change from the side that defeated Hearts 2-0 in their final league game of the season.

Mikael Lustig returns at right-back in place of Cristian Gamboa.

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Ryan Jack is back in the Aberdeen line-up along with Graeme Shinnie, who has replaced him as captain, in what will be the midfielder's last game before leaving the Dons at the end of his contract.

Northern Ireland winger Niall McGinn, also expected to move on, returns.

More controversially, Jayden Stockley is preferred to top scorer Adam Rooney up front, as he was in the 3-1 defeat by Celtic the last time the sides met.

Also dropping out of the side that thrashed Partick Thistle in their final game of the season are Ryan Christie, due to his loan terms from Celtic, central defender Anthony O'Connor and Scott Wright despite the 19-year-old's hat-trick at Firhill.

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Aberdeen may be underdogs today but their form is heartening to say the least, having won 20 of their past 25 games.

However, Celtic can trump that with 22 victories over the same stretch.

Graeme Shinnie took over the Dons captaincy when Ryan Jack was injured at the start of May and he keeps the armband for today.

The 25-year-old led Inverness Caley Thistle to Scottish Cup glory two years ago.

"I've got a great relationship with Jacko," said Shinnie earlier this week. "We will be fighting for each other. We'll be doing everything we can to win.

"We've got a great team spirit here and it's all about the team."

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Michael Stewart
BBC Sport Scotland pundit

Willie Miller
Former Scotland defender on BBC Sportsound

Celtic: Gordon, Lustig, Tierney, Simunovic, Boyata, McGregor, Brown, Armstrong, Sinclair, Roberts, Griffiths.

Substitutes: De Vries, Bitton, Dembele, Gamboa, Rogic, Sviatchenko, Forrest.

Aberdeen: Lewis, Logan, Shinnie, Considine, Taylor, Reynolds, McLean, McGinn, Hayes, Stockley, Jack.

Substitutes: Alexander, Rooney, O'Connor, Pawlett, Wright, Ross, Storey.

Fourth round - Aberdeen 4-0 Stranraer (Rooney 2, McGinn 2)

Fifth round - Ross County 0-1 Aberdeen (Logan)

Quarter-final - Aberdeen 1-0 Partick Thistle (Shinnie)

Semi-final - Hibernian 2-3 Aberdeen (Rooney, Christie, Hayes)

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Fourth round - Albion Rovers 0-3 Celtic (Sinclair, Dembele, Armstrong)

Fifth round - Celtic 6-0 Inverness (Dembele 3, Lustig, Tierney, Brown)

Quarter-final - Celtic 4-1 St Mirren (Lustig, Sinclair, Dembele, Griffiths)

Semi-final - Celtic 2-0 Rangers (McGregor, Sinclair)

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Chris McLaughlin
BBC Sport Scotland

The teams sheets will be with us soon but some news is leaking...