Dewald Nel and Fraser Watts may be 37 and 38 respectively and played at the highest level of the game previously, but both men cannot hide their excitement ahead of tomorrow’s Citylets Scottish Cup final between Watsonians and Carlton.

The two Edinburgh clubs are due to meet today in the CSL Eastern Premiership at Myreside and then tomorrow morning both sides and their supporters will head up to Broughty Ferry to Forthill for the showpiece event.

With the sides sitting fifth and sixth in the league respectively it points towards a tight final and whatever happens former Scotland men Nel and Watts will be key to the outcome.

Seam bowler Nel has taken 19 league wickets this summer and his partnership with fellow experienced bowler Andy McKay will play a big part in ‘Sonians attack.

“I am really looking forward to this one, it is not every day you get to play in a final,” Nel said.

“We have already won a trophy [the Murgitroyd Masterton Trophy] this season and have national T20 finals day next weekend, but this is the one we are very much focused on just now.

“The last time we got to the Scottish Cup final we lost to Heriot’s and it was tough to take so we want to go one better.

“We have some guys who have come into form lately, but Carlton are a good side with solid leaders and we know that we will have to be at our best to beat them because we know they are just as keen for glory as we are.”

After they won the top flight crown last season a lot of Carlton’s more senior players stepped back from first XI duties, but batsman Watts stayed on to guide the youngsters coming through.

Along with captain Ali Evans and Michael Herdman he has done a good job and Watts said: “It has been great to see young guys step up to first XI cricket and make some valuable contributions.

“It has been a steep learning curve at times, but they have a Scottish Cup final to look forward to and that is brilliant.

“For the whole club it is a boost because the league season perhaps has not go as well as we would have liked, but these are the days you want to be involved in.

“We will be giving it our all against a team we know have quality and who we know well.”