SPL Weekend preview's for 06th Feb 2010--Scottish Cup previews

Eight SPL clubs are involved in the fifth round of the Active Nation Scottish Cup this weekend, with a place in the quarter-finals on March 13 at stake.

St Mirren v Rangers - Saturday, 12.30pm (BBC)
Holders Rangers, who have top scorer Kris Boyd back in their squad after injury, won 2-0 in Paisley on Clydesdale Bank Premier League duty last month and the teams meet again the League Cup final on March 21. Saints knocked out Alloa with a 3-1 home win in the last round while Walter Smith's men ousted Hamilton Accies after extra time in an Ibrox replay.

Hibernian v Montrose - Saturday, 3pm
John Hughes' men are massive favourites against a team who are bottom of Division Three and only posted their first league win of the season last weekend. Irvine Meadow were beaten 3-0 at Easter Round in round four by a Hibernian side seeking a first Scottish Cup triumph since 1902.

Kilmarnock v Inverness CT - Saturday, 3pm
Jimmy Calderwood's men are on a high after beating Celtic on Tuesday night thanks to a Chris Maguire goal but will be wary of an Inverness team who have already seen off Motherwell. Killie, who last won the Scottish Cup in 1997, edged out Falkirk to reach the last 16.

Raith Rovers v Aberdeen - Saturday, 3pm
Aberdeen prevailed against Hearts in round four and now travel to John McGlynn's First Division side, who overcame Airdrie in a replay. The Dons haven't won the Scottish Cup since 1990 and are aiming to recover from home defeats to Motherwell and Falkirk in the past week.

St Johnstone  v Dundee United - Saturday, 3pm
The local rivals served up a thrilling 3-3 draw in the SPL last month and meet again this weekend. Saints dumped United out of the League Cup earlier in the season and were comfortable winners at Forfar in round four while Peter Houston's men safely negotiated a tricky trip to Partick Thistle.

Dunfermline v Celtic - Sunday, 12.15pm (Sky)
Tony Mowbray's side head for East End Park, having knocked out Morton in round four. Robbie Keane is again expected to feature as Celtic bid to bounce back from defeat at Kilmarnock in midweek. Dunfermline needed extra time to beat Stenhousemuir in a replay in the previous round, having won an appeal against explusion from the tournament for fielding a suspended player.

Brown to skipper Celtic
Scotland midfielder Scott Brown has been named as the new Celtic captain after Stephen McManus moved on loan to Middlesbrough during the transfer window.

The former Hibernian player, pictured at training on Friday, returned from injury as a substitute against Kilmarnock on Tuesday night and Hoops boss Tony Mowbray told the club website: "Scott Brown is at the stage in his career where the responsibility will be good for him.

“I understand Scott’s personality. He wants to win and he wants to be a winner out on the field. When Scott’s fit and available and in the team, then he will lead the team out with the armband on."

There are two other ties this weekend not involving SPL clubs - First Division leaders Dundee host Ayr United and Ross County face Stirling Albion of Division Two at Victoria Park.

Scottish cup records of the current SPL clubs Motherwell v Hamilton preview

Only one spl game on and it is a derby at fir park Motherwell v Hamilton now i used to go to Motherwell games way back in the late 80's, when i was a boy, so this fixture has always been a great one the 2 teams have loads of history with Hamilton coming of the win with celtic in the mid week clash(less said about that the better)they will be confident to say the least but they will have to work for the win in a way i wish i could go to this match brings back memorys just thinking about it a lot has changed at fir park since i went, it was the stands way back then, one thing will be the same and that is the local turn out for this fixture fir park should be busy plus fans that have not been for some time maybe turn up for this local Lanarkshire derby.

Derby day at Fir Park--
Motherwell and Hamilton Accies meet in a rearranged Clydesdale Bank Premier League game at Fir Park on Saturday. The derby clash was postponed on January 2 and goes ahead this weekend as both clubs are already out of the Scottish Cup.

Motherwell have been in great form under new boss Craig Brown, with 10 points from their last four matches, and can go five points clear of sixth-placed Hearts with victory tomorrow.

A difficult run of fixtures has seen Accies slip to the foot of the table on goals scored but a win would see them move level on points with St Mirren. It was 2-2 at New Douglas Park earlier in the campaign and the sides meet there again next weekend for part two of a derby double header.

Motherwell manager Craig Brown said: "We hope it (the good run) will be maintained and we think there is no reason why not because the players are committed - they are good players. Hopefully we'll get a similar response to the end of the season."

Accies boss Billy Reid said: "It's an interesting one. It's a complete turnaround to how they play. Jim Gannon got the ball from the back and made numerous passes before getting the ball forward. Craig tends to be a bit more direct and, at the moment, it seems to be working for them."

Last five form: Motherwell LWWDW  Hamilton LLLDL  Referee: Mike Tumilty