It is quarter-final time in the Scottish League Cup as Kilmarnock host an out-of-form Hearts side at the BSSP Stadium on Tuesday night, with a place in the last four up for grabs.
Killie come into this clash after successive 2-2 draws in the Scottish Premiership, while Hearts will be looking to respond after a narrow defeat at St Mirren on the weekend.
Match preview
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After 81 minutes of Kilmarnock's trip to Dundee on Saturday, a brilliant Danny Armstrong brace coupled with the sending off of Josh Mulligan for the hosts had the visitors cruising towards a second league win of the campaign.
Unfortunately, 23-year-old Zak Rudden popped up with a 93rd-minute winner for Tony Docherty's men to force Killie to a share of the spoils for a second game running, despite the visitors dominating both possession and creating the majority of chances.
Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes received an unusual red card for kicking the ball before it had gone out of play, and it is that certain that the 52-year-old will not be tempted to get involved in the action on Tuesday night, especially considering how his men fared in the last round of this competition.
A second-half strike from Marley Watkins in the last 16 against reigning champions Celtic handed Killie an unexpected passage into the quarter-finals, looking to add another League Cup to their trophy cabinet after winning the 2011-12 edition of the tournament.
The two sides have already clashed in the Premiership this season, but 90 minutes could not the split the teams as they both settled for a goalless draw, although there has to be a winner on Tuesday night.
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Hearts were unable to make it back-to-back wins in the Premiership on Saturday, falling to a narrow 1-0 defeat at St Mirren, with the hosts' Ryan Strain bagging the decisive goal of the contest in the seventh minute.
The Jam Tarts have battled through a congested schedule at the beginning of the term due to their involvement in the League Cup and Europa Conference League, but their journey in the latter came to an abrupt end on August 31 with a 4-0 loss away at Greek outfit PAOK following a 2-1 defeat in the first leg at Tynecastle.
Unless Steven Naismith's men are looking to pose an unlikely threat to Rangers and Celtic for the Premiership title, Tuesday's visitors will view the League Cup as their best chance of picking up a major honour for the first time since the 2011-12 campaign.
Hearts entered the competition in the knockout stages due to their involvement in European competition, and Naismith's charges made light work of second-tier Partick Thistle to book their place in the quarter-finals, with Odel Offiah and Kyosuke Tagawa amongst the scorers as the Tynecastle club won 4-0.
The biggest threat to the Killie backline on Tuesday night will surely be the towering Lawrence Shankland, with the former Dundee United man regularly being called up for Scotland squads after making the net ripple on 24 occasions in the 2022-23 Premiership season.
Team News
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Kilmarnock boss McInnes is set to be without the services of Irish centre-back Corrie Ndaba until next month, with the 23-year-old still recovering from an ankle injury picked up in the last-16 success over Celtic.
Liam Donnelly last appearance for Killie was a nine-minute cameo against Brendan Rodgers's Hoops, and the midfielder is continuing to struggle with a calf strain ahead of Tuesday night.
Both striker Watkins and left-back Robbie Deas are doubts after being forced off in the early stages of the draw at Dundee on Saturday, meaning Andrew Dallas and Thomas Davies could be drafted into the XI.
Hearts supporters are a few weeks away from seeing the talents of Yutaro Oda again after he picked up a knock in the victory over Aberdeen earlier this month - the Japan youth international has made a real impression at Tynecastle since making the switch from Vissel Kobe this summer.
The Jam Tarts are unable to include Alexander Cochrane in their matchday squad on Tuesday, with the 23-year-old struggling with an ankle injury at the start of this term after being a stalwart during the 2022-23 campaign.
Nathaniel Atkinson was substituted at half time during the loss at St Mirren on the weekend, and ex-Barnsley defender Toby Sibbick will be hoping to be handed a starting berth on the right of the visitors' backline.
Kilmarnock possible starting lineup:
Dennis; Mayo, Wright, Findlay, Davies; Armstrong, Lyons, Magennis, Kennedy; Dallas, Vassell
Hearts possible starting lineup:
Clark; Sibbick, Kent, Rowles, Kingsley; Baningime, Nieuwenhof; Devlin, Boyce, Vargas; Shankland
We say: Kilmarnock 1-2 Hearts
Kilmarnock were minutes away from their second win of the league campaign on Saturday, and they must now bounce back from that disappointment to fight for their place in the semi-finals of the League Cup.
Hearts have endured a tricky start to the term, but we are backing Shakland and company to click into gear to fire the Jam Tarts into the last four on Tuesday night.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
