Key battles: Dunfermline-Celtic

By Colin Moffat

Celtic are aiming for a 34th Scottish Cup success when they take on Dunfermline at Hampden Park on Saturday.

Having wrapped up the Premier League title, Celtic start as overwhelming favourites against the Pars, who will be playing in the First Division next season.

However, Dunfermline, who won the cup twice in the 1960s, have ousted Hibs, Rangers and last year's winners, Hearts, en route to the final.

Stephen Kenny's side put together a strong run as they battled in vain to avoid the drop but he will be missing a few of his star performers, while Celtic have a clean bill of health and can boast a side full of highly-paid internationals.

Here, BBC Sport highlights the key battles likely to be played out at Hampden.

JAN VENNEGOOR OF HESSELINK v SOULEYMANE BAMBA

Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink arrived at Celtic Park with an abundance of European experience and is the club's top scorer despite his first season in Scotland being interrupted by injuries.

The towering Dutch forward usually has a height advantage over defenders but can expect his ariel prowess to be matched by Souleymane Bamba.

However, there is more to the striker's game than heading, as his recent cute back-heel goal against Aberdeen proved, and he will be a real menace up front.

Bamba, a former Ivory Coast Under-21 international, did not look like the kind of player who would be playing in a cup final when he arrived at East End Park last summer.

The giant centre-half did not take to the rigours of the Scottish game immediately and struggled, along with several other team-mates, in the first half of the season.

However, in recent months, Bamba has been the linchpin of a very mean defence and has turned in several excellent performances.

He has the hight to match Vennegoor of Hesselink in the air and proved in the semi-final games with Hibs that he can deal with opponents who play the ball on the deck.

SHUNSUKE NAKAMURA v ADAM HAMMILL

In Shunsuke Nakamura, Celtic have the most deadly striker from distance in the Scottish game and his contributions have been crucial for the champions.

Time after time, the Japanese playmaker cracks home wonderful free-kicks as well as providing accurate ammunition for his forwards.

A delicate touch on the ball is coupled with a wonderful array of passing and, on his day, he can turn a game with a flash of genius.

Adam Hammill is another exciting player, blessed with pace and the ability to take defenders on.

Since arriving on loan from Liverpool in January, the England U19 international winger has quickly become a fans' favourite.

He has scored just once, but it was a screamer from distance - and it was against Celtic.

The teenager does have a tendency to overdo the fancy stuff but he supplies good deliveries from the left flank and it was his trickery that won the decisive penalty in the semi-final replay.

STEPHEN McMANUS v JIM McINTYRE

Stephen McManus has made great strides since manager Gordon Strachan arrived at Celtic Park two years ago.

Always a powerful athlete, the 24-year-old centre-half looked rather raw and cumbersome on his limited appearances under Martin O'Neill.

But his dominant displays at the heart of defence have established McManus as a first-team regular and that has led to international recognition.

Always a threat from set-pieces - he has scored 10 goals in two seasons - the strong defender is also quick and never afraid to go in where it hurts.

Jim McIntyre may have only scored three goals this season, but he will be the man leading the Pars attack.

The striker missed most of the campaign through injury but returned in January and has looked stronger with every appearance.

He played a prominent role in Dunfermline's excellent end of season run, with the Fifers only losing three of the 13 games he played in.

And it was his audacious chipped penalty that secured Dunfermline's place in the final.

Always dangerous in and around the penalty area, McIntyre is also a good link-up player - full of feints and flicks to help set up his team-mates.