How the teams might line up in Sunday’s Petrofac Training Cup Final between Livingston and Alloa at McDiarmid Park, live on BBC ALBA at 4.05pm.
LIVINGSTON
1 – Darren Jamieson
The 24-year-old product of the Livingston youth system is closing in on 80 top-team appearances since making his debut in the Third Division against Albion Rovers back in April 2010. A dab hand when it comes to saving penalties - which may prove very useful on Sunday. During last season, Jamieson’s first as the regular shot-stopper, he saved five spot-kicks.
2 – Craig Sives
Sives started his career at Hearts but moved to Partick Thistle and Queen of the South on loan to get first-team football. The 28-year-old spent time with Shamrock Rovers and Australian outfit Hume City before joining the Lions in January 2014. Scored Livingston’s first goal in this season’s Petrofac Training Cup when he netted against Queen of the South.
5 – Callum Fordyce
The 22-year-old defender came through the youth ranks at Livingston after being released by Hibs and made his top-team debut back in 2011. An ever-present in the Petrofac Training Cup this season and found the net in a 4-0 win over Alloa in the Championship. His best goalscoring return was a hat-trick of headers against Cowdenbeath in the Championship last season.
14 – Declan Gallagher
The former Celtic defender joined Livi last summer after playing in every minute of Dundee’s successful Championship-winning season. He was part of a Dens Park side that handed Alloa their last defeat in this competition back in July 2013. Was sent off in a 1-0 reverse to Alloa at the Indodrill Stadium in November.
3 – Jason Talbot
The one-time Everton, Bolton Wanderers, Mansfield and Port Vale player is the Livi skipper and is looking to lift a trophy in his first final since his schooldays. The 29-year-old has been with the West Lothian side since 2008 and took over the armband when Simon Mensing left for the USA earlier this year. Scored what turned out to be the decisive penalty in the semi-final success over Stranraer.
7 – Keaghan Jacobs
Keaghan is the eldest of the four brothers who played for Livingston in a game against Albion Rovers back in 2010. A one-club player, Jacobs made his debut against Alloa back in November 2007. A fine attacking force, the South African-born midfielder will be looking to build on a return of two goals so far this season.
6 – Kyle Jacobs
Kyle is the only other brother to still to be playing at Livingston, although he was at Kilmarnock before coming back to join Keaghan in the engine room. More defensively-minded than his elder sibling, Kyle has played more than 150 times for Livingston.
4 – Darren Cole
Recent signing Cole will look to provide defensive cover from midfield in what will be his first cup tie since helping Rangers defeat Elgin City in the Scottish Cup back in December 2012. The 23-year-old was snapped up by Mark Burchill in February, having been out of the game since leaving Morton at the end of last season.
25 – Scott Pittman
Pittman is in line for his Petrofac Training Cup debut and winning the trophy just over two months since he joined from Junior side Bo’ness United would be a great start to life as a Livingston player. An attacking midfielder, he previously played for Alloa and Hamilton Accies and has inherited his dad Steve’s ability to play on the left side of the park.
20 – Danny Mullen
Mullen looks like being handed a starting jersey after Ibra Sekajja suffered a shoulder injury last weekend in the 2-2 draw between the finalists. The 20-year-old has slalomed his way through defences to score and set up goals this season and is a player who Alloa will need to watch closely.
18 – Jordan White
The former Dunfermline striker found goals easy to come by last year when he helped Stirling Albion win promotion via the play-offs. This season started well with seven goals, including a hat-trick against Alloa in the Championship and a double against Hearts the Petrofac Training Cup, before September was out. He is now on 11 goals for the season.
ALLOA ATHLETIC
21 – Craig McDowall
The 24-year-old keeper will be looking to keep out some old friends as he began his career at Livingston before joining Alloa in 2011. McDowall had to be patient before becoming a regular starter at the Wasps due to the form of Scott Bain, who has now moved on to Dundee. McDowall has made himself No 1 this season ahead of John Gibson.
17 – Michael Doyle
One of the livewire characters in the Alloa dressing room and a more than decent right-back as well. Can charge forward to help his attack and the former Kilmarnock and Stirling Albion player has now made over 150 appearances for the Indodrill Stadium side. Doyle will be an unlikely hero if he scores against Livingston as you have to go back to December 2011 for his last goal!
4 – Ben Gordon
The big stopper is the Alloa skipper and has been a regular in their defence since becoming one of Paul Hartley’s first signings back in 2011. Gordon was with St Mirren when he was younger and rebuilt his career by being a stand-out at Strathclyde University. Has won league titles with Dumbarton and Alloa and scored recently in Alloa’s 2-2 draw with Rangers at Ibrox.
14 – Kyle Benedictus
The 23-year-old is on a season-long loan from Dundee, with whom he picked up a Challenge Cup medal back in 2009 in a 3-2 comeback success against Inverness Caley Thistle. Benedictus, who was an SFL Young Player of the Month back in 2008, aged just 16, is gaining valuable experience at the Wasps where he has played more than 25 times this season.
5 – Daryll Meggatt
Began his career at Queen’s Park where he was the left back after Barry Douglas and before Andrew Robertson. The two other Spiders have moved on to full-time football and the 24-year-old is tipped to do the same. Has now played over 100 games for Alloa and - whether it be in a left-back or centre-half role - he is very rarely beaten in the air.
10 – Graeme Holmes
Experienced midfielder Holmes is expected to keep his place as former Hearts man Stephen Simmons is just returning after a back injury. Another player brought in by Paul Hartley in 2011, who has gone on to play more than 150 games for the Wasps. Holmes has not scored so far this season so Sunday would be a great time to break his duck.
7 – Kevin Cawley
Former Celtic, Ayr United and East Stirlingshire player Cawley has scored goals in three divisions for Alloa since joining them in 2011 but has yet to find the net in this season’s Petrofac Training Cup. The 26-year-old is well respected for his goal-making attributes but is also a goal threat himself.
8 – Ryan McCord
The former Dundee United midfielder scored the equaliser when Alloa came from two goals down to defeat Rangers 3-2 in the semi-final. McCord is the older brother of Ross, who now plays at Montrose. As well as scoring against Rangers, McCord got the goal that knocked Morton out at the quarter-final stage of this season’s Petrofac Training Cup.
3 – Mark Docherty
‘Sparky’ is one of the driving forces in the Alloa side, where he provides energy and drive on the left-hand side, as well as good delivery at set-pieces. The former St Mirren midfielder is in his second spell at the club after being Player of the Season at Stranraer last year. The 26-year-old is one of the most popular players at the club due to his effervescent displays and his hard-working approach.
25 – Michael Chopra
Alloa’s surprise signing last month made his first start against Livingston last weekend and helped set up the opening goal in a 2-2 draw. The 31-year-old began his career at Newcastle United in 2000 but is best known from his time at Cardiff City. Chopra has also donned the colours of Sunderland, Ipswich Town and Blackpool and came to the Wasps after a spell with Kerala Blasters in India.
19 – Liam Buchanan
Former Cowdenbeath, Partick Thistle, Dunfermline Athletic, Sligo Rovers and East Fife striker Buchanan grabbed a brace against Livingston last weekend. The 30-year-old scored in seven consecutive games earlier this season and is back in form with four goals in the last three games, taking his tally for the campaign to 14.
Craig Stewart
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