LEE McCULLOCH is the sort of guy to always greet people with a smile as opposed to a frown.

It doesn't matter if you're a team-mate, an opponent, a supporter or even a member of the media, you get him the same way. And that's how he wants it to remain.

For that to be the case, however, the Rangers star will have to prove successful in his quest to help his side lift the Co-operative Insurance Cup this weekend when they take on Old Firm rivals Celtic in the final at Hampden Park.

McCulloch makes no excuses for the fact defeat in such a game would make even the most approachable of players go into hiding. And that's not a situation he wants to find himself in on the back on Sunday's showdown.

As someone who grew up a Rangers fan and who has experienced the highs and lows along the way, the Ibrox star has endured contrasting emotions following Old Firm victories and defeats since signing on at his boyhood heroes from Wigan 18 months ago.

And he is determined to be celebrating lifting the first piece of silverware on offer this season, rather than being full of regrets and wondering what might have been by losing out to Gordon Strachan's side.

"When I first arrived at Rangers someone was describing Old Firm games to me from a player's perspective," he explained.

"I can't recall who it was, but I always remember them saying they are the best you will ever play in if you win and the worst if you lose.

"Now, having played in a few and won some and lost some, I totally appreciate where they were coming from.

"When you get beaten you just want to go home and crawl under your bed for a few days and not speak to anyone, you really are gutted. But if you happen to win them then you are delighted and you want to make the most of it.

"That goes for any Old Firm game, but the fact this is a cup final makes it an even bigger game for everyone involved.

"I'm looking forward to Sunday. To be involved in another cup final would be brilliant. I've been involved in three since I joined Rangers.

"It was fantastic to win the League Cup and the Scottish Cup last season and although it was extremely disappointing to lose the Uefa Cup Final, it was a wonderful experience none the less.

"I also played in the Carling Cup Final with Wigan when we lost to Manchester United at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. We lost 4-0 and it was an absolute battering so that was a bit of an anti-climax.

"That final was different from the others in the sense that when you are going to face a team such as United, and all the world-class players they have at their disposal, you know you are going to be up against it.

"But when you are at Rangers, and you are involved in a final, regardless of which one, then you are expected to win it."

McCulloch, however, doesn't feel there is much to separate the Glasgow giants as they prepare to go head-to-head for the fourth time this season.

Walter Smith's men won the opening meeting between the clubs this season at Parkhead, Celtic reversed that result by winning at Ibrox and then both sides shared the spoils in the most recent meeting back at Celtic Park.

"The team teams facing each other on Sunday are pretty similar in terms of the size of the squads and quality, so I feel the team that wants it the most will win it," said McCulloch. "Obviously I'm hoping it's Rangers that manage to come out on top.

"I see Sunday's match being a particularly fast game. I think the tempo will be really high throughout which, in fairness, is usually the way Old Firm games are played. You don't often get too much time on the ball.

"How both teams start the game will be very important. I think how the opening 10-15 minutes goes could have a big say in it and the team that takes control in that spell will most certainly have the upper hand."

McCulloch then points across the room in the direction of Celtic striker Scott McDonald, who has joined him at Nike's launch of a 5-a-side project.

"He is firing in the goals just now and winning games on his own. He really is performing really well just now.

"And Scott Brown has hit form for Celtic in the middle of the park. Both of them could be in contention for the Player of the Year awards come the end of the season as they've been performing really well.

"Celtic have players on form and so have we. We have the best defensive record in the SPL and we also have a good attacking record. The midfield will be really important, but we must try and play to our own strengths. I've been asked if Celtic's Scottish Cup defeat at the weekend at the weekend provides them with extra incentive to try and win on Sunday or whether it provides us with the same because we are the only team now that can win the Treble.

"The honest answer is I'm not so sure. Both teams will be desperate to win the game so we'll have to wait and see how it goes."