(Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
Hibs and Rangers meet at Hampden this afternoon in the second Premier Sports Cup semi-final of the weekend – and both teams have confirmed their starting XI ahead of 4pm kick-off.
After Celtic booked their place in the final yesterday, both sides know what is awaiting them if they can win this afternoon and take a step closer to getting their hands on the trophy.
Hibs’ actually hold a lengthy unbeaten run going back to 1979 at Hampden over Rangers – although there’s only been a handful of meetings between the two sides at the national stadium in that time.
Jack Ross is unable to call upon Sean Mackie, Melker Hellberg, Kyle Magennis and Dan Mackay but Welshman Christian Doidge is fit again after an Achilles injury he suffered back in August.
After the Covid outbreak at Easter Road which forced the postponements of the Premiership fixtures against Ross County and Livingston, this will be the first competitive game for the Cabbage since losing to Celtic on October 27.
There was a bounce game for the Hibs players earlier in the week but with almost a month without a competitive game, Ross will be hoping there is no rust on his players with so much at stake.
The Hibs boss wants his players to make try and make up for “missed opportunities” from last season as he eyes getting his hands on some silverware this season, saying: “We realise there were missed opportunities for us last year and I don’t mean in terms of who we were playing and that nonsense.
“I just mean being in semi-finals. This is as good an opportunity for us as any last year because it’s a semi-final and it can take us closer to winning something. I sense that feeling around the players this week.
Rangers will be watched by new manager Gio van Bronckhorst as David McCallum, Brian Gilmour and Jermain Defoe take charge of the Ibrox side following Steven Gerrard’s departure for Aston Villa.
NTOF now offers a YouTube channel featuring exclusive interviews, post-match discussion, in-depth debate, and much more – LIKE and SUBSCRIBE and don’t miss any of our videos.