Whatever the predictions about the Tennent's Velvet Scottish Cup final today at Murrayfield between Glasgow Hawks and Kelso, the one certainty is that the trophy and the winner's cheque for #20,000 will go to a second division club for the first time in the history of the competition.

The reality, of course, is that Hawks inherited their second division status from GHK, the senior of their two constituent parts, when the two Anniesland teams were merged to form a new high-flying side. The runaway winners of division two, are a second tier club this season only by accident of birth.

Hawks' appearance today in the cup final comes at the end of campaign that has been little short of impressive. It began back in December at Rubislaw where Hawks were 39-10 winners over Aberdeen GS FP.

Then in the fifth round, Hawks showed their awesome power by overwhelming Jed-Forest at Riverside Park by 67-21 before earning their ''favourites'' tag by defeating Watsonians 21-6 at Myreside. Hawks' only home game was their semi-final victory against Boroughmuir.

It is hard to disguise the view that Hawks will cruise through the final, for there is little doubt that they have all-round strength, but notably in the key strike positions where they possess exceptional pace as Hawks' director of rugby, Ian Russell, quickly acknowledged.

''Murrayfield has those extra few yards of width and that will certainly help the side with pace. Where I think we may have the advantage is not just in having more pace on the wing than Kelso, but also in the amount of support pace.

''It is the team with more players round the ball who will win,'' added Russell, who is aware that his forwards have a weight advantage of more than a stone per man. Much of the extra poundage will be supplied by tighthead prop Mike Beckham, the anchorman in a Hawks pack that has mobility in Gordon McIlwham, the Wallace brothers and Gordon Mackay, and line-out winning ability in Charles Akufakwa and Scott Hutton.

Behind the scrum, the key

player for Hawks will be Tommy Hayes at stand-off, but one can expect much of the midfield oomph could come from centre Chris Simmers. There is strike power too at scrum half in Cammie Little, one of several in the Hawks side to have played for the winning GHK team last year at Murrayfield in the Tennent's Shield final.

But Hawks have only to look at Kelso's route to the final to realise that the Borderers will present hard opposition. The fifth round gave the pointer to Kelso's abilities as the Poynder Park side achieved a home win over West of Scotland by 10-3.

Then followed the surprise 18-13 victory against holders Melrose before Currie succumbed in the semi-finals in an 18-17 thriller.

Kelso, however, go into the final with the psychological disadvantage of having lost to Hawks three times already this season. ''They're a difficult side to play against,'' admitted Bruce Rutherford, the Kelso coach, who nevertheless believes that his side can counter the Hawks' fire power.

''We will want to lift the tempo as much as possible. We will want to get our tackles in early, organise our defence collectively, and try to play our own brand of open rugby.

''But that will mean winning as much ball as possible,'' said Rutherford, a former Gala man who has steered Kelso to the brink of success.

But on the day it is the Kelso players who must perform. And that means games from Adam Roxburgh, Iain Fullarton and Stewart Bennet in the pack, and Iain Fairley, Johnny Wearne and Graham Cowe behind the scrum.

An exciting final is always wanted and certainly the two teams today have the make-up to deliver. But one senses that it is Hawks who hold the face cards, and that the Tennent's Velvet Scottish Cup will find a Glasgow home - at least for one year.

Glasgow Hawks - Backs from: G Metcalfe, D Stark, C Simmers, D Wilson (captain), A Common, T Hayes, C Little, G Hawkes, M McGrandles, C MacGregor, S Simmers. Forwards from : G McIlwham, C Docherty, M Beckham, C Afuakwah, S Hutton, F Wallace, K Horton, M Blackie, S Begley, A Ness.

Kelso - D Baird; S Ross, G Laing, I Fairley, C Jackson; J Wearne, G Cowe; S Murray, K Thomson, D Howlett, I Fullarton, S Laing, S Bennet, S Forsyth, A Roxburgh (captain).

Replacements - R Carruthers, R Laing, K Hendry, S Rowley, R Hogarth, D Paxton.

Referee - C Muir (Langholm).