With the extra 1800 tickets allocated to Hibs snapped up almost instantly, the total number of Hibs supporters heading to Hampden now stands at a whopping 37,000, the actual figure probably being bolstered by a number of fans who will have snapped up tickets in the Livi end out of desperation. It's sad that Livingston have only managed to sell 6,000 tickets ahead of the biggest game in their club's limited history, this despite resorting to practically giving them away. Indeed, I am left wondering if they can survive, as it suggests they are playing to a very limited market.

Some die-hard fans queued overnight to ensure they would be first in line on Tuesday morning for the remaining tickets for Hibs' first League Cup final since 1992.  Club Secretary Gary O'Hagan told Hibs.net: "With the odd tickets we had left, and following the return of some others, we have actually sold nearer to 2,000 tickets today bringing the total sold via the Hibernian ticket office to some 37,000.  We'd like to thank the massive Hibernian support for standing up and being counted and ensuring Sunday will a day to remember.  Also, I'd like to thank the SFL, Hampden Park Limited and Strathclyde Police for their co-operation in releasing those additional tickets to the Hibernian support."

The club is now operating a prioritised waiting list for any tickets returned by fans in the run-up to the final, with Director of Marketing & Communications Colin McNeill adding: "We would urge fans who do not use their tickets for whatever reason, to return it to the ticket office where we will allocate them according to the prioritised waiting list."  Personally I am surprised there are that many Hibs fans, as I have seen little to convince me of that at Easter Road this season. It confirms the rightness of the SUABC campaign, because if we can put a performance together on the park that has that many people wanting to come to Easter Road on a regular basis, SUABC will not be needed. Half the fun of Sunday for me will be taking my seat and being blown away by the sight and sound of 37,000 of my fellow supporters. It will be the kind of day that will live in the memory for a long time, if only for that. Imagine if we actually won...

The other consideration is that Hibs will have over SIX times as many supporters at Hampden than Livingston and that must count for an advantage. It is an advantage Hibs will need as they aim to do what they haven't done all season, and beat Livingston, the West Lothian side having run out winners against us both times we've faced them. I don't think the game will be pretty as neither side is on a great run. In terms of the last 6 SPL games played, the only sides performing worse than Hibs (played 6, won 1, drawn 3, lost 2) are Partick Thistle and Livingston, the West Lothian side having won one game in their last 6 and lost the other five.

Hibs big problem all season has been scoring goals, the boys in the Green having the lowest strike rate in the division, paradoxically despite being awash with striking talent at present. Part of that is undoubtedly the fact that the most creative players in the team have spent most of the season injured. Defensively we are mid-table having conceded 40 goals in the SPL, the 6th highest figure so you can see where the most room for improvement lies. I am optimistic about Sunday because the width of Hampden can only favour the ability of Riordan and Brown on the flanks, something that could give Livingston's usual 433 formation problems.

Stephen Glass is facing up to a Hampden heartbreak after seeing his hopes of playing in Sunday’s CIS Cup final dashed, the creative midfielder having been told that the answer to his knee problem is rest.  The 27-year-old had been hoping to stake his claim for involvement by rejoining the rest of the first-team squad in training this week as boss Bobby Williamson steps up his preparations for the Hampden showdown.  "Stephen Glass has seen a specialist and he has again been told that rest is the cure," said Williamson.  "He has been ordered to take complete rest so we will see how he is after that and then take a look at him."