Source: Team_Talk
Smith surprised by cup statistic
Smith, in his second spell as boss at Ibrox, was brought to Rangers as assistant to Graeme Souness in 1986 before taking over five years later.
However, the Glasgow giants never met in a final during his first reign in Govan - which ended in 1998 - nor since his return two years ago.
Smith acknowledged the unique occasion but expects nothing less than a typical Old Firm battle.
"It is a wee bit of a surprise," he admitted. "I never really thought about it until someone came up with the statistic.
"I had a few Old Firm finals as assistant to Graeme Souness earlier in my career.
"I've had the league games which have produced their own level of pressure but a one-off cup tie is one we will all look forward to.
"Old Firm games are really difficult to predict. There hasn't been much between the sides in the league games this season, regardless of results,
and the cup final will be much the same.
"But it's important to win, you can't get away from that."
Smith revealed that defender Madjid Bougherra, who limped off with a calf injury during Sunday's Homecoming Scottish Cup quarter-final win over Hamilton at Ibrox, will be fit for the final.
The Ibrox boss is hopeful that striker Nacho Novo - who has been out since sustaining an ankle injury against Dundee United at the end of January - will be back in contention but appeared slightly less positive about defender Kirk Broadfoot, who missed the game against the Accies with a foot injury.
Smith also has to consider whether to hand a starting slot to Kyle Lafferty, who grabbed a brace against Hamilton.
He added: "Bougherra will be okay for the game. Novo has a possibility of being back.
"He is hopeful of returning to training in the middle of the week and I would hope he would be fit for Sunday.
"Broadfoot is like Nacho Novo, we will have to wait until later in the week.
"He has a ligament problem in the base of his foot so hopefully that can clear."
Steven Whittaker replaced Broadfoot against Accies and scored in the 5-1 win, leaving Smith with a decision to make if the former St Mirren player recovers.
The former Scotland boss said: "Steven did well on Sunday and he was more like himself.
"He was doing the type of things of which we know he is capable.
"When players come into the team we always want them to try to force us into making decisions and Steven has made a case for the final.
"The same goes for Kyle Lafferty who played well at the weekend."
