Tommy McCallion (centre) is hoping to get the nod to start for the Glens

The Derryman should have lined out in the 1999 decider for Cliftonville.

However, that was the year the Reds were thrown out of the Irish Cup final after fielding the ineligible Simon Gribben in the semi-final.

"It was a huge disappointment. There's no guarantee I will start but I will be hoping for the call," said McCallion.

The former Derry City favourite is likely to be in competition for the final midfield place in the starting 11 with Tim McCann (two) and Kevin Keegan.

McCallion joined the Glens last summer but, like many of his Oval team-mates, he struggled during the opening months of the season.

The midfielder acknowledges that the he was unhappy that he had effectively been offloaded by Derry when he would have been more than happy to remain at the Brandywell.

"It was disappointing to leave Derry City at that time but I couldn't have moved to a bigger club or better team.

"It's been an up-and-down season for me. I'd been injured in my final season at Derry and it took me a while to establish myself at Glentoran.

"However, since Christmas I've been enjoying my football much, much more."

We had injuries and suspensions at vital times, especially in February and March Coleraine's Tony Gorman

In the build-up to Saturday's big match, the Derryman met up with Coleraine veteran Tony Gorman who hails from nearby Letterkenny for a joint-interview conducted by BBC Radio Foyle stalwart Ritchie Kelly.

Gorman says that completing back-to-back cup successes would represent the greatest achievement of his career - given all the financial trials and tribulations the club have endured this season.

"For the players to have come through all that is a testament to their character and to their belief in the manager Marty Quinn," says Gorman.

"I don't know if there is any other squad in the country that would have stayed together in those circumstances."

Gorman doesn't attempt to hide his displeasure with the team's form in the build-up to the decider.

Up to February, the team still held an outside chance of winning the league title after producing an impressive run of performances.

However, since then, "the wheels have come off" and Gorman is now banking on the side producing a big final effort at Windsor Park.

"It showed that our squad wasn't big enough. We had injuries and suspensions at vital times, especially in February and March, and we couldn't cope with it."