John Hughes' quest for Holy Grail boosted by Ross County draw

For the third successive tie, John Hughes' team have landed a home draw against non-SPL opposition. While First Division title contenders County represent a significant step up in quality on Ayrshire junior outfit Irvine Meadow and Third Division side Montrose, comfortably beaten at Easter Road in the previous two rounds, it is another benevolent draw for Hibs.

Hughes has lyrically referred to his club's bid to win the Scottish Cup for the first time since 1902 as 'the Holy Grail' and they now have the opportunity to book a semi-final place without having to face any of their top-flight rivals.

The Hampden draw, which was made by world snooker champion John Higgins and Active Nation Scottish Cup benefactor Willie Haughey, produced three other intriguing ties. The winners of Wednesday's fifth-round replay between Rangers and St Mirren will be home to Dundee United, while First Division leaders Dundee will welcome the winners of Tuesday's replay between Aberdeen and Raith Rovers to Dens Park. The remaining last-eight showdown sees Kilmarnock host a Celtic side who will have an early opportunity to avenge the SPL defeat they suffered at Rugby Park when Robbie Keane made his much-hyped debut for Tony Mowbray's men last week. The quarter-finals are scheduled for the weekend of 13 and 14 March.

Bookmakers Ladbrokes cut the odds on Hibs winning the Scottish Cup to 7-2 from 5-1 after yesterday's draw, the Easter Road club having opened as 20-1 shots at the start of the season.

Hibs manager Hughes, though, will be keen to avoid any complacency against a Ross County side who are currently just six points behind First Division leaders Dundee with three games in hand. The Dingwall club crushed Stirling Albion 9-0 at Victoria Park on Saturday to reach the Scottish Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history and manager Derek Adams is relishing the trip to Leith.

"Hibs are obviously one of the top sides in the SPL this season and they will see this as a good draw they expect to win," said Adams. "They will be delighted to be at home against a First Division team and will view it as an outstanding chance to reach the semi-finals.

"We have already made history by reaching this stage and this is a big test for our players. We knocked one SPL side out of the Co-operative Insurance Cup earlier this season when we beat Hamilton Accies and played well when we then lost to Dundee United in that competition. We have performed well to earn this tie and we will look forward to going to Easter Road next month."

Michael Johnston, chairman of Kilmarnock, greeted his team's pairing against Celtic with mixed emotions but remains hopeful history might repeat itself for his club under the guidance of an interim manager.

"When we last won the trophy in 1997, we did so under Bobby Williamson who had initially been appointed on a short-term basis after Alex Totten parted company with the club," Johnston said. "We are obviously in a similar position at the moment with Jimmy Calderwood.

"Back in 1997, however, we managed to avoid playing either of the Old Firm on our way to winning the cup. I am delighted with a home tie but a little disappointed to draw Celtic. Having just beaten them at Rugby Park for the first time in nine years, it would have been nice to have a longer gap before they came back again looking for revenge."

It is now over three years since Dundee United were drawn at home in the Scottish Cup and chairman Steven Thompson was clearly disappointed by yesterday's outcome and the prospect of a trip to Ibrox where his team were hammered 7-1 two months ago.

"It would have been nice for our fans to get a home tie for a change," he said. "You never know, St Mirren might win the replay, but if it's Rangers, then it's a chance for us to set the record straight at Ibrox.

"The 7-1 game was a one-off, we were still suffering a hangover from losing Craig Levein to Scotland. We are back on track now under Peter Houston."