Scottish Championship side Dunfermline Athletic host St Johnstone in the Scottish League Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday evening as both sides look to book a day out at Hampden Park.
With current champions Celtic suffering a shock early exit in the previous round, there will be a different winner for the first time since 2016, and Dunfermline and St Johnstone will be hoping to get their hands on the trophy for the first time in their history.
Match preview
Dunfermline are currently sitting in second place in the Championship table after picking up 14 points from their first seven league games of the season.
Stephen Crawford's men advanced to the last eight of the League Cup by winning all four of their group games, including an impressive 3-0 away win over Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock back in October, before seeing off Arbroath in the last-16.
They come into this midweek clash on the back of a disappointing 2-1 defeat at the hands of Greenock Morton that saw them lose ground on early table-toppers Hearts in the race for automatic promotion to the top flight.
A home tie against a side just five places above them in the Scottish footballing pyramid will be seen as a huge opportunity for Dunfermline to play at the national stadium and continue their hunt for silverware.
St Johnstone are just two places and three points above the relegation playoff place in the Scottish Premiership after a tricky start to the new campaign has seen them win just four of their opening 17 league matches.
They were unable to build on the point they picked up at Celtic Park last time out, losing 2-1 at home to Livingston, who leapfrogged them in the table.
That loss ended their 11-match unbeaten run in all competitions, but goals have been hard to come by for the Perth club in 2020-21, having scored just 15 goals in the Premiership this season.
Callum Davidson's men advanced to the last eight of the competition by topping Group C, pipping Dundee United and Peterhead with three wins from their four group games.
A shock 2-1 away win over Motherwell in the second round set up this quarter-final tie, and The Saints will have their sights set on securing another victory on the road.
Dunfermline Athletic Scottish League Cup form: WWWWW
Dunfermline Athletic form (all competitions): DWWWDL
St Johnstone Scottish League Cup form: WWDWW
St Johnstone form (all competitions): WDDWDL
Team News
Dunfermline centre-back Lewis Martin remains sidelined with a long-term calf injury for the second-tier team.
Striking pair Declan McManus and Kevin O'Hara will be key to the Championship side's chances, with the attacking duo bagging 11 goals between them already this season.
Callum Booth, Murray Davidson and Craig Conway returned to the bench for Davidson's side for the visit of Livingston and could be deemed fit enough to feature from the first whistle on Tuesday.
Former Rangers winger Michael O'Halloran is expected to return to the Saints squad following an injury layoff in what could be a big boost to St Johnstone's chances.
Dunfermline Athletic possible starting lineup:
Fon Williams; Comrie, Watson, Murray, Edwards; Dow, Turner, McInroy, Thomas; O'Hara, McManus
St Johnstone possible starting lineup:
Clark; Kerr, Gordon, McCart, McNamara; Bryson, McCann, Tanser, Wotherspoon; May, Kane
We say: Dunfermline Athletic 2-1 St Johnstone
It should be an evenly matched contest at East End Park with so much on the line for both sides. The priority for Dunfermline this season is promotion and St Johnstone's is avoiding the drop, but with a trip to Hampden Park and a realistic chance of winning a major trophy at stake, neither side will want to pass up on this opportunity.
Home advantage could be crucial here in a game of fine margins and The Pars could pull off an unexpected victory against higher level opposition.
Top betting tip
George Cannon
