Scottish Cup's £3m European bounty creating pound signs in the eyes of Hearts, Hibs and other SPFL clubs

Never before has the trophy carried so much prestige. This year’s winners are poised for a place in the Europa League play-off round. Even defeat at that stage comes with a parachute into the Europa Conference League groups.

So whoever lifts the Scottish Cup at Hampden Park on May 21 would effectively hoist aloft a pass guaranteeing European group-stage football. The status, honour and intrigue will entice fans to snap up tickets whilst clubs themselves salivate at the cash on offer.

Next season's Europa League will pay out more than £3million per team just for taking part. Europa Conference League groups are predicted to be worth around £2.7m. That’s before cash per point and gate revenue.

Now, UEFA don’t confirm access lists until after the season ends but as things stand this is the scenario. Should the Scottish Cup winners also qualify for the Champions League through finishing first or second in the Premiership, then the cup’s European spot goes to third in the league.

The reward for finishing third alone looks like being a place in the third qualifying round of the Europa Conference League. Fourth in the Premiership enters one round earlier at the second qualifying round.

This is where Hearts come in, and why they privately place such strong emphasis on finishing third and winning the cup. If one doesn’t bring Continental football to Tynecastle this summer, then the other will.

Either one means you’ve exceeded expectations as a newly-promoted Premiership side. Do both and it’s an overachievement to live long in the memory.

Hearts host Livingston tomorrow in a Scottish Cup fifth-round tie which is far from straightforward. Every other team playing in the competition this weekend, from Aberdeen to Annan Athletic,