Celtic defender Stephen McManus will disregard the plight of Dunfermline when the two sides meet in Saturday's Tennent's Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park.

Despite a late battle to beat the drop under manager Stephen Kenny, the Pars were eventually relegated from the Bank of Scotland Premier League after a 2-1 defeat by Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

The Fifers, who have not won the cup in 39 years, have lost two major finals to the Parkhead club in the last three years.

And to add to the enormity of their task, Dunfermline will be without cup-tied Tom McManus and Stephen Glass, suspended Gary Mason and on-loan midfielder Jim O'Brien, who has been refused permission by Celtic to play against his parent club.

However, McManus said: "It's a one-off game and no matter who you are playing against, anything can happen.

"And we are playing them in the cup so we are not going to look at their league form.

"But it wouldn't matter to us who we were playing, Dunfermline, Partick Thistle or Rangers, just as long as we are there.

"At the start of the season, we wanted to win every domestic competition that we entered but our main aim was to win the championship again.

"We've done that but to finish with a double would be a terrific way to end the season."

McManus shrugged off suggestions Celtic's form has dipped in recent weeks as they cruised to their second SPL title in succession, clinched just over a month ago against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

The Scotland international said: "That's the pressure that you are under every week at this club.

"Players don't realise until they come to this club, especially if they come from a Scottish club, that the demands are enormous.

"And to become a good Celtic player, you have to handle these pressures and get on with your business as usual.

"But if you were to ask, 'what would you rather have, the best football you've ever seen and get beaten 1-0 in the final or do all right and win the final 1-0?' then I know what I would rather have.

"It's going to be a long summer for whoever doesn't win the final and so we are going to be focused and professional."

McManus has been tipped to take over as Celtic captain from Neil Lennon, who will play his last game for the Parkhead club before moving on after six and half years in Glasgow.

The big defender refused to comment on the issue of the captaincy but believes winning the cup would provide a great end to the season, not just for the Irishman, but for all the players.

"Everybody at the club is looking forward to the match," the 24-year-old said.

"And with it being Lenny's last game, we are looking to put in a good performance.

"Winning it would be a fitting send off for him but we are hoping to win it for the full squad.

"We've all worked very hard. It's not just been about 11 players, it's about the squad who have showed tremendous respect for each other and that's what it's all about."