By Lindsay Herron

ALLAN McGREGOR can claim two CIS Cup winners' medals in his time with Rangers but he scarcely had to get off his backside to collect them.

On Sunday, he wants to win one for real by helping Dunfermline cause a massive upset and defeat Celtic at the National Stadium.

McGregor was an unused substitute in March 2002 when Rangers defeated Ayr United 4-0 to give Alex McLeish his first trophy as Ibrox manager.

He was on the bench again a year later as Claudio Caniggia and Peter Lovenkrands notched the goals which led to a 2-1 win over Celtic and sent Rangers on their way to a remarkable Treble.

McGregor might have been able to win a medal in his own right last season but he was prevented from taking part in the semi-final against Dundee United and then the Final against Motherwell because he had played in the competition earlier while on loan to St Johnstone.

So Sunday will be the chance for the young goalkeeper, who is on a season-long loan at Dunfermline, to really win something in his own right.

McGregor said: "Of course it was brilliant to have been involved in all of these trophy parties with Rangers and it was the same when we won the title in 2003 and 2005.

"However, you never feel totally part of it when you haven't played in the game but it goes with the territory when you are a goalkeeper.

"So it would be fantastic for me if I could actually play an active role in a cup final win, although I realise it is going to be really difficult.

"Last season was a real blow because when Stefan Klos got injured I thought it would be a chance for me to come and get a run in the side.

"The problem was that I had played in the CIS Cup for St Johnstone and was ineligible for the semi-final with Dundee United.

"Ronald Waterreus was then signed and that was him in the side for the rest of the season."

Dunfermline, currently toiling at the foot of the SPL, are massive underdogs for Sunday's Final - especially if you consider the most recent meeting between the two sides.

And, of course, there is an extra edge to the game as Celtic will pay tribute to Jimmy Johnstone, who died on Monday.

The Pars were humiliated 8-1 by Celtic at East End Park last month, although McGregor missed the match through injury. It was Bryn Halliwell who had to suffer that day.

That kind of result is enough to crush spirits, but McGregor believes this Sunday's Final can be entirely different.

He has some specialist help as he prepares for the big game in more ways than one.

Scott Thomson is the goalkeeping coach at Dunfermline and McGregor enjoys working with him day to day.

However, Thomson also has a T-shirt in his house somewhere which boldly proclaims - "Raith Rovers, Coca-Cola Cup Winners 1994/95".

He was between the sticks when the men from Kirkcaldy caused one of the greatest cup final upsets in living memory by defeating Tommy Burns' Celtic at Ibrox.

Even now it seems inconceivable that a team out-with the top division could win a League Cup final never mind topple one of the Old Firm.

It was the first time since East Fife beat Falkirk back in 1947/48 that a non top flight club claimed the prize.

The final with Celtic finished 2-2 after former Rangers striker Gordon Dalziel capitalised on Gordon Marshall spilling the ball and equalised late in the match.

It went to a shoot out and Thomson was the spot kick hero, saving Celtic skipper Paul McStay's sudden death effort which incredibly gave Raith the trophy 6-5 on penalties.

McGregor said: "It's been great to work with Scott at Dunfermline and, of course, his experience from 1994/95 can be a real positive for me.

"That was an incredible result for Raith Rovers. Nobody gave them a chance against Celtic but they came up with the goods.

"There are similarities for us. We are clear underdogs going into Sunday's Final. I am sure there are not too many people who are backing us to win it.

"However, Raith Rovers are proof that upsets can happen and if we play to our best and Celtic don't hit top gear then we can do it.

"We showed that in the league match at Parkhead last November.

"It's going to be really difficult, of course, but we will go to Hampden with belief and desire."

Dunfermline went to Glasgow on November 26 last year and were not given an earthly, but they came away with a 1-0 victory which one hysterical commentator described as a laughable result.

It provoked much banter between McGregor and his friends at Murray Park - especially as Rangers had lost at the same venue a few weeks earlier.

He said: "The game at Parkhead was brilliant. It was really strange because I didn't have that much to do.

"I was expecting to be a lot busier than I was and in the end it was quite comfortable."

Having made over 20 top team appearances for Dunfermline this season, McGregor is getting the consistent run of matches he has always craved and this may play a key role in what happens to him in the summer.

He still has one year left on his Rangers contract but, at the age of 24, he does not want to go back to sitting on the bench again.

He said: "I want to play every week - just like any other player. I will need to see what is happening in the summer but I have had no indication yet what the plans are.

"It was hard for me in previous seasons because Stefan was so hard to shift from the team.

"I have really been enjoying playing regularly and I want that to continue so I will need to see what the situation is in the summer because I don't want to go back to sitting on the bench again."