Scottish rugby supporters are rising to the challenge of getting behind Edinburgh Rugby in Saturday's Celtic Cup final against Ulster at Murrayfield (2.30) as advanced ticket sales have already topped the 12,000 mark.
Ulster as usual are travelling in force and are expected to bring around 3,000 supporters with over 2,00 booked onto early morning ferries through the club's official partner Stena Line.
Keith Grainger Tournament Director of Celtic Rugby said: "Whilst Todd Blackadder's team are going to have the majority of the crowd willing them on in their bid to lift a first cross-border title for the Scottish game they won't have the singing all to themselves - these Ulster supporters are becoming legendary and if they make half as much noise as they did in the semi-final at Glasgow, Edinburgh can forget about hearing the castle's cannon for an hour or two on Saturday .
"It all reminds me of the film Braveheart, as it seems like the Campbells, the McGregors and the MacKenzies have all heard a rallying call and they are uniting behind one Scottish cause,"
"A lot of people questioned the decision to play the Celtic Cup final at Murrayfield, when the venue was first announced they declared they believed we would get no bigger crowd than at a club venue - around 4,000.
"The advance sales have already trebled that estimate and, when you have the passion of the Ulster supporters on the road and the sort of backing from the Scottish supporters that is evident now it makes it all rather enjoyable, with two teams in fantastic form, one of them Ulster on top of the Celtic League and Edinburgh Rugby unbeaten in the Heineken Cup this year, we certainly have the prospect of a classic cup final.
"Particularly popular has been the offer of Family tickets for one adult and one child at #15 and two adults and two children at just #25, these are still available and are on sale until Friday night. We've got all sorts going on for every age group; face painting, balloon modelling, a thirty metre toboggan run, pipe bands, brass bands, free mince pies and free mulled wine - it's set to be the best start to a family Christmas EVER