Men's Scottish Cup Quarter-final preview

The Scottish Cup returns this weekend with four eagerly-anticipated quarter-final matches taking place. 

All four matches will be broadcast live on TV across BBC Scotland and Viaplay. 

The weekend begins with Kilmarnock making the trip north to play Inverness Caledonian Thistle. That match will kick off at 7:45pm on Friday in front of the BBC Scotland cameras. 

Kilmarnock are eyeing up their second Hampden appearance this season, having reached the semi-finals of the Viaplay Cup earlier this year. However, they have not won an away match against Inverness since 2010. Killie last reached the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup in 1997, the year they went on to win the competition - defeating Falkirk 1-0 in the final.

Inverness reached the last four in 2019, when John Robertson's side lost 3-0 to Hearts. 

The action continues on Saturday when Hearts host Celtic at Tynecastle Park live on Viaplay. Hearts reached the Scottish Cup final last stage and they are unbeaten in their last 13 Scottish Cup matches at Tynecastle. 

They will face a tough test in the form of Premiership leaders Celtic though. Ange Postecoglou's side have already won the Viaplay Cup and they will have their sights set a return to Hampden in the Scottish Cup. 

Viaplay will also broadcast Rangers' tie against Raith Rovers on Sunday lunchtime. The Ibrox side are the competition's holders having beaten Hearts 2-0 in the final last season. 

Michael Beale's side have also never lost to opposition from a lower division at home in the Scottish Cup, although Raith Rovers do have fond memories of playing at Ibrox in this competition.

Christian Nade scored the winner as the Kirkcaldy side won 2-1 against Rangers to reach the quarter-finals in the 2014/15 season. 

The weekend concludes on Monday night as Championship side Ayr travel to League One Falkirk. That match will kick off at 7:45pm live on BBC Scotland. 

It's the first meeting between these two sides in this competition in 11 years.

The Honest Men are aiming to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2002, while Falkirk would be the first League One side in the semi-finals in nine years, should they triumph. 

Video Assistant Referee (VAR)

VAR is in operation at Hearts' match against Celtic on Saturday and Rangers' fixture against Raith Rovers on Sunday. 

As in the Fourth and Fifth Rounds, VAR is used where the necessary equipment for the operation is already installed at the venue and the match is broadcast live on television.

Scottish Cup Semi-final Draw

The Scottish Cup Semi-final draw will take place on BBC Scotland directly after the conclusion of Falkirk's match against Ayr United. 

The draw will be conducted by former Scotland captain and 1999 Scottish Cup winner Colin Hendry. 

Scottish Cup Quarter-finals