Premier Sports Cup preview: Rangers under pressure against Hibs, Celtic heavy favourites to beat Thistle

The competition for the Premier Sports Cup hots up this weekend as the quarter-final ties determine which four teams will be heading to Hampden.

Seven Premiership clubs, and Partick Thistle from the Championship, hold dreams of lifting the first major silverware of the season, and those hopes will only grow for fans of the sides who progress from the weekend’s games.

Each tie has its own attraction and there’s drama guaranteed before the semi-final draw is made on Sunday.

Kilmarnock v St Mirren

Kilmarnock ran Celtic close last week and will now look to see off St Mirren. SNS Group

The 2012 and 2013 League Cup winners go head to head on Friday night in the first of the quarter-finals and both have had encouraging starts to the season.

Celtic are the only side to defeat either side in the Premiership, and both progressed to this stage of the knockout competition as group winners, and then defeating other top-flight sides. Kilmarnock saw off Dundee United with a 2-1 win, while St Mirren won a penalty shoot-out against Hearts.

Killie boss Stuart Kettlewell is certainly anticipating an exciting clash, and he may have to adapt things to the flow of the game..

“I’m sure there’s going to be a few twists and turns from Plan A on Friday,” he said. “I’m sure we’ll probably get to B, C and D at some point because it will be two teams trying to have a real good go at trying to get to the national stadium for a semi-final because it means an awful lot.”

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson reached Hampden finals with Motherwell and feels those cup moments are missing from his successful time in Paisley.

“I’ve said to the players, you know, sometimes these opportunities come round once in a career,” he said.”I’ve been very lucky that it’s come round a few times. But that doesn’t often happen.

“So you have to grab these opportunities. We want to progress in any way possible. It doesn’t have to be the best performance in the world, but you have to find a way to win.”

Aberdeen v Motherwell

Jimmy Thelin has already won one cup competition with Aberdeen. SNS Group

Aberdeen fans don’t have to cast their minds far back to have happy memories of cup competitions, after their thrilling Scottish Cup final win over Celtic in May.

That sparked joyous scenes in the Granite City but this season hasn’t delivered anything like the same enjoyment so far. Jimmy Thelin’s side won away at Morton to reach this stage but league form has been underwhelming and a win could kick-start things at Pittodrie.

Motherwell have drawn plenty of plaudits for their quick switch to a very expansive playing style under Jens Berthel Askou and are unbeaten in domestic competition.

The frustration for the manager and his side has been a difficulty in converting chances into goals and wins, but they have looked like a side on the verge of something good and will be aiming to land a knockout blow on the Dons.

Rangers v Hibernian

Russell Martin is under pressure after a dismal start to the season. SNS Group

All eyes will be on Ibrox on Saturday evening as a struggling Rangers face a Hibs side whose season has been a rollercoaster so far.

Rangers’ results this season under Russell Martin means he goes into the game under huge pressure. Fans groups have called for him to be sacked after a disastrous start, the American owners have given him their backing, and there is a protest from supporters planned for before the game.

The reason is simple, in addition to an embarrassing European defeat to Club Brugge, Martin’s side are tenth in the Premiership table, without a league win and fresh off the back of a 2-0 home defeat to Hearts. A cup exit to Hearts’ rivals would see a toxic atmosphere reach new levels but after a week where he has sought to lift spirits with team-bonding exercises, Martin will be hoping for a morale-boosting win that might quiet the noise about his future.

David Gray’s Hibernian haven’t been dull to watch this season and have had highs and lows, with their European campaign packed with goals and drama. Domestic games haven’t failed to deliver either, but the 2-0 win over Livingston is the only win in seven games.

Gray will point to last week’s comeback to draw 3-3 with Dundee United as evidence of the spirit in his side, and the fact his team has scored in all 11 competitive games this season will add to confidence they could add to Rangers’ woes.

Partick Thistle v Celtic

Mark Wilson will face the toughest test of his fledgling managerial career. SNS Group

Mark Wilson has enjoyed his start to life in management. Four wins from four made for a perfect group stage, and the Jags reached the quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Ayr United.

The team sit third in the Championship table with three wins and a draw from five games has Thistle in confident form. But Wilson and his players haven’t played anyone of Celtic’s level and know they face a tough task at Firhill.

The holders sit top of the Premiership, swept Falkirk aside with a 4-1 win in the previous round and look to be settling after a spell where off-the field matters and transfer talk has been the focus. A controversial penalty was needed for the team to defeat Kilmarnock last weekend but it allowed new signing Kelechi Iheanacho to get off the mark.

Celtic are heavy favourites ahead of their trip ahead across the city but if Thistle could pull off an upset, a weekend fo intriguing ties would end with a stunning twist.