When Celtic and St Mirren clash in the Scottish Cup this weekend, it's a fixture steeped in recent history. This marks the third time in just four seasons these two sides have been drawn together in the competition, with Celtic holding a firm psychological edge, having won the last four such encounters.

For St Mirren, the memories of toppling the Glasgow giants are distant. Their last Scottish Cup victory over Celtic dates back to the 2009 quarter-finals, when a Billy Mehmet penalty secured a famous 1-0 win in Paisley. This semi-final is the Buddies' first at this stage since 1984, a match Celtic won 2-1 on their way to the final.

However, St Mirren will draw confidence from a monumental result earlier this season: a stunning 3-1 victory over Celtic in the League Cup final. That triumph stands out as one of only three wins for the Paisley side in their last 36 meetings across all competitions, proving they can rise to the occasion.

For Celtic, the Scottish Cup is a stage where they have historically excelled. The Hoops have contested a staggering 61 of the 139 finals and are chasing a record-extending 43rd title. Their dominance in finals has been profound; before a defeat to Aberdeen last season, they had won 11 consecutive Scottish Cup finals since 2002.

The legacy of past managers like Martin O'Neill, who lifted the trophy three times, underscores the expectation at Celtic Park. St Mirren, meanwhile, are three-time winners themselves, with their most recent glory coming in 1987—a 1-0 extra-time win over Dundee United that was the last all-Scottish final in terms of players and managers. As they prepare for this high-stakes semi-final, both teams are playing for more than just a place in the final; they're battling to define their season and etch new chapters in Scottish football lore.