Scottish Cup: Preview of last-16 ties including Celtic, Rangers, Hearts, Aberdeen and Hibs

There are 16 teams going head to head in the Scottish Cup this weekend and lots of intriguing ties.

Let’s take a look at what’s coming up.

Thistles threaten to sting

There are four Championship sides at home to top-flight opposition, including Greenock Morton v Motherwell on Friday and Airdrieonians v Heart of Midlothian on Sunday – which will be broadcast live on the BBC.

Both of those second-tier sides are in great shape, with the Greenock side unbeaten in 12 matches and fresh from banging in five goals away to Dunfermline, while the Diamonds have not lost in seven and have only conceded twice in that run.

Elsewhere, Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Partick Thistle will fancy their chances against Hibernian and Livingston respectively, but that’s possibly more to do with the terrible form of the visitors.

Partick destroyed Ross County in the previous round, making up for some of the pain of last term’s dramatic play-off defeat.

Livingston’s only victory since early October came on the same afternoon as they edged out Raith Rovers in West Lothian and David Martindale’s strugglers may feel even more deflated after losing out to a late goal at Rugby Park on Wednesday.

Although there was a marked improvement in the cruel midweek loss to Celtic, Hibs have looked a soft touch under Nick Montgomery too often and their only win from their last eight outings was a rather fortunate 1-0 away to Forfar.

However, last season’s surprise runners-up have struggled at Caledonian Stadium of late, taking just one point from their past five home league games and failing to score in the last three.

Getting to know you

Next we come to two ties involving sides that have not met before, which is rare at this stage of the tournament.

Neil Warnock has never taken a team to a cup final and it would be a major shock if Aberdeen don’t get their temporary boss a step closer at home to League Two Bonnyrigg Rose, the lowest-ranked side still standing.

Sean Connery’s old team have won the Junior Cup twice but this is the furthest they have been in this competition.

Kilmarnock also start as big favourites against Cove Rangers given the gulf in divisions and their impressive home form.

There was an Old Firm double in August and Killie have lost just two of their past 13 on their own plastic patch – both to Hearts – while the arrivals of Greg Stewart and Kevin van Veen have strengthened a streetwise squad.

Cove have gone off the boil without a League One win in five attempts since the turn of the year and needed extra time to get past Highland League Brora Rangers.

What about the Old Firm?

Rangers will be expected to rack up a 20th victory under Philippe Clement without too much fuss. The Belgian has hauled his side right back into the title race with just one defeat in his 23 games since replacing Michael Beale.

Todd Cantwell is enjoying a purple patch, with five goals in his last eight appearances, the oft-maligned Cyriel Dessers has quietly crept into double figures, John Lundstram has been re-energised and Ridvan Yilmaz is finally looking the part.

Ayr United are huge underdogs but new manager Scott Brown knows a thing or two about winding up the Ibrox crowd. The presence of the former Celtic captain is sure to make for a more heated atmosphere than usual for these kind of David v Goliath fixtures.

Ally MacLeod was in charge of the Honest Men when they last beat Rangers, in October 1975, and you have to go all the way back to 1959 for an Ayr United victory at Ibrox.

Finally, we get to cup holders Celtic, who look a little out of sorts and have a tricky assignment in Paisley.

St Mirren took four points off the champions last season but took three hidings in between and have lost both league meetings this time round, suffering an early blitz at home in the last weekend before the winter break.

Celtic have been unconvincing since the campaign resumed without it being too costly. There have been uncharacteristic struggles in front of goal as chances galore were squandered in the win over Ross County and the draw at Aberdeen, while they created little against Hibs, relying on two penalties to get them over the line.

Their wingers have been subdued and supporters will have been puzzled to see top scorer Kyogo Furuhashi on the bench at Easter Road. The bright note was a confident spot-kick double from new arrival Adam Idah coming after his team’s four penalty misses this term.

St Mirren will have noted Hibs and the Dons gave Celtic a fright when taking the shackles off, but that’s easier said than done against the heavyweights.