Now it's David Wotherspoon's turn to whip in a great delivery for St Johnstone. Shaun Rooney is piling in at the back post but Ilkay Durmus, giving away significant inches in a height contest, gets there first with a great clearing header.

James McFadden
Former Scotland forward on BBC Radio Scotland

St Mirren winger Ilkay Durmus pings over a dangerous cross, with both Lee Erwin and Richard Tait not far away from getting something on it.

St Johnstone midfielder Craig Bryson cracks in a shot from 30 yards out but it's straight at Jak Alnwick, who gathers without any fuss.

Early corner for St Mirren but referee Willie Collum spots some jiggery-pokery in a crowded penalty area and blows for a St Johnstone foul.

And away we go at Hampden.

St Mirren manager Jim Goodwin says he wants his side to remember the disappointment they felt after losing in the Scottish League Cup semi-final earlier this season.

"We need to draw on the experience a couple of months back here against Livingston, the disappointment that we all felt and try to use that as motivation so we don't have that same feeling tonight," he says.

"I think it will do us the world of good and I hope that's reflected in the performance you see here today."

"It was great for me to have the strength in depth back available, we've been short of numbers in recent weeks. The likes of Eamonn Brophy are nowhere near fit enough to start the game, but it's a very strong bench, it's a very attacking bench and great options for me if required."

St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson says his side don't need any added motivation after Covid-19 disrupted their preparation for today's match.

"First and foremost we had to make sure everyone was safe, so we had to shut the place down for a few days," he tells BBC Sportsound.

"Not ideal preparation but the last couple of days were really good, so we're ready to go.

"We're missing a few players, the squad is stretched a little bit but it was a difficult decision in which team to pick today - Glenn Middleton and Michael O'Halloran gave me problems because they've played well. It's great for me to have that.

"It's the semi-final of the Scottish Cup, we don't need any galvanising. We know what's at stake."

These two have met three times in the league this season, with St Johnstone winning twice in Perth, both by a 1-0 margin.

St Mirren found two late goals for a 3-2 win in Paisley in December.

It would be a surprise if this one wasn't another tight game.

Image source, SNS

Sportscene's TV coverage has just started on BBC One Scotland and you can watch the programme at the top of this page.

Former Aberdeen and St Johnstone manager Derek McInnes and Dundee captain Charlie Adam, who had a loan spell at St Mirren a long time ago, are the guests at Hampden, with host Steven Thompson - an ex-Buddies striker.

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer on Sportsound

St Johnstone are a solid unit, well drilled all over the pitch and mean in defence.

They have kept 10 clean sheets in 2021, with centre-backs Liam Gordon, Jason Kerr and Jamie McCart providing a formidable barrier alongside goalkeeper Zander Clark.

Those four were all exceptional in the quarter-final victory at Ibrox, soaking up a lot of pressure from Rangers.

Jim Goodwin and Callum Davidson were still playing the last time these clubs met in the Scottish Cup.

The St Mirren boss was celebrating after a double from Esmael Goncalves in February 2013, while Davidson was a frustrated unused substitute that day.

Image source, SNS

With the League Cup already in the McDiarmid Park trophy room and St Johnstone sitting fifth in the Premiership, manager Callum Davidson admits his debut season has already exceeded his wildest dreams.

But that doesn't mean he's happy to settle with what he's already achieved.

"Once you get that taste of success, you want more," said Davidson at his cup final media conference.

"From late December onwards, the players have been brilliant and they have turned what could have been a difficult season into a phenomenal season."

Of course, St Johnstone have tasted cup success already this season, winning the League Cup for the first time.

A Shaun Rooney header was enough to see off Livingston at Hampden in late February.

Could the Perth Saintees pull off a cup double and make it a truly remarkable first season in management for Callum Davidson?

Image source, SNS

That League Cup semi-final defeat to Livingston still hurts St Mirren manager Jim Goodwin, who wants to channel that pain in a positive way today.

"I have spoken to quite a few of the players individually," Goodwin revealed on Friday.

"I've talked to some of the experienced ones within the group about these opportunities not coming around very often and for us to have two semi-finals in one season is a great achievement, but for me it's not the sign of a successful season.

"It'll be a successful season if we go one step further this time around."

Image source, SNS

St Mirren and St Johnstone are the only Scottish teams to have beaten Rangers this season.

To get here, the Perth Saints came through a penalty shoot-out at Ibrox after goalkeeper Zander Clark pulled out a script from Roy of the Rovers to set up a dramatic equaliser from a corner in the dying throes of extra-time.

Clark then saved a couple of spot-kicks into the bargain.

St Mirren bundled Steven Gerrard's runaway Premiership champions out of the League Cup in a 3-2 thriller in Paisley.

But they fell at the next hurdle, losing out to Livingston in the semi-final.

Image source, SNS

Callum Davidson admitted his much-changed team for their Premiership victory over Hibernian gave him a selection dilemma ahead of today’s semi-final, with the St Johnstone boss impressed by those who were given an opportunity to shine at Easter Road.

Unfortunately, he was presented with an additional, unforeseen selection headache of a different kind after four of their first-team players were forced to self-isolate following the news that two had tested positive for Covid-19.

Zander Clark is back in between the sticks after missing the game in the capital with a sore big toe, trampled on in the quarter-final celebrations at Ibrox.

Emergency loan signing Zdenek Zlamal provides cover on the bench. You’ll remember the Hearts goalie had a similar stint at St Mirren earlier this season.

Shaun Rooney, David Wotherspoon and Guy Melamed are the others returning to the starting line-up.

Jim Goodwin was less than impressed after St Mirren lost 2-1 to the Premiership’s bottom club last weekend, with Hamilton Academical earning their first win in 10 matches against the Paisley side.

The St Mirren boss reverts to a more familiar line-up today as he makes four changes and goes with a back four.

Marcus Fraser returns to the team after signing a new contract earlier this week, taking the place of Jay Henderson.

Ilkay Durmus, Jamie McGrath and Lee Erwin all came off the bench against Hamilton and they are back in from the start.

Erwin takes the spot of Collin Quaner up front, while Daniel Finlayson and Cammy MacPherson also drop out, with the latter absent from the matchday squad.

St Johnstone have a 100% record in Scottish Cup finals. One appearance, one win. And that came in 2014 when current gaffer Callum Davidson was assistant to Tommy Wright.

The men from Perth came from behind to sink Aberdeen in the last four and you can see the goals from that day at Ibrox below.