Post by Taxigirl on Mar 6, 2004 12:26:49 GMT
The Old Firm of Celtic and Rangers lock horns at Parkhead on Sunday, live on Sky Sports 1, with a place in the semi-finals of the Tennent's Scottish Cup at stake.
Rangers have had little to cheer about this season. They sit 16 points behind Celtic in the SPL, were dumped out of the League Cup by Hibernian in the semi-finals and slipped out of Europe at an early stage.
With Celtic seemingly gone beyond recall in the league, the Scottish Cup is Rangers' only realistic chance of securing some silverware this term.
Celtic on the other hand have carried all before them domestically, being unbeaten in the league, and are set to take on the might of Barcelona in the Uefa Cup next week.
Gers chief Alex McLeish will be looking for his side to raise their game, having been scathing in his criticism of the players following their defeat by Dundee United last weekend.
McLeish has had to contend with unrest in the camp, with Henning Berg questioning the merit of including Frank de Boer, while Ronald de Boer admitted confidence was at a low ebb following the defeat at Tannadice.
Big Eck has a full squad to choose from, but claimed he will make changes to his team - which could well be music to the ears of midfielder Stephen Hughes who has pleaded for a chance to take on The Bhoys.
Danish flyer Peter Lovenkrands is pushing for a recall having shaken off an ankle injury, while Gavin Rae, Maurice Ross and Steven Thompson are also champing at the bit to start.
Celtic go into the game on the crest of a wave, but manager Martin O'Neill has a number of injury worries to contend with.
John Hartson is certainly out with a back injury which could well curtail his season, while fellow striker Chris Sutton is doubtful with an ankle complaint.
Jackie McNamara is facing a race against time to shake off a leg injury and could well join long-term casualties Ulrik Laursen and Shaun Maloney in the treatment room.
Henrik Larsson could well be asked to lead a depleted Celtic front line against a Rangers side smarting from previous results this season.
With McLeish having a full squad to choose from, he may view it as the perfect time to face Celtic, who may have one eye on Barcelona, provided he can raise morale in the camp.
In one of the other quarter finals established giant-killers Inverness Caledonian Thistle travel to Motherwell as the only non-SPL side team remaining in the draw.
Aberdeen host Livingston at Pittodrie, weather permitting, while Dunfermline travel to SPL basement boys Partick Thistle.