Montrose manager Steven Tweed realistic about chances against former club Hibs

• Steven Tweed

Tweed, now boss of the Gable Endies, insisted it takes just one look at the clubs' respective positions to highlight the enormity of the task facing Montrose, his side anchored to the bottom of the Third Division while Hibs are 39 places in front, third in the SPL.

To underline the disparity, bookies have Hibs as overwhelming favourites, John Hughes' side quoted at 12/1 ON while Montrose are being offered at 16/1 against.

Tweed has no quibble about seeing his side virtually written off before a ball is kicked, arguing he is not being defeatist but rather pragmatic in his own assessment of the likely outcome.

The 37-year-old said: "You can wax lyrical as you like, but Hibs are massive favourites.

"We played their Under-19 side pre-season and were beaten 3-2 which tells you what a momentous game faces us.

"Just making the last 16 is a big achievement for us and, while we'd love to go further, it would be one of the greatest upsets in Scottish Cup history. The odds that the bookmakers are offering say it all.

"It would need Hibs to have their worst day and us our greatest. We are leagues apart, quite literally."

Tweed has been a regular visitor to Easter Road this season and has been impressed by the transformation under Hughes and his assistant Brian Rice.

But, while pointing out Derek Riordan and Anthony Stokes as the obvious dangers, the big defender believes midfielder Liam Miller is the man who makes Hibs tick, tipping the Republic of Ireland star to even become Scotland's player of the year.

He said: "Hibs are playing free-flowing football, they've still got youngsters coming through but to my mind no-one can touch Liam Miller at the moment. He has to be on the shortlist to be the top player in Scotland this season."

Tweed, however, believes his side have nothing to lose, urging his youngsters to enjoy the occasion and to take the opportunity of playing on a bigger stage than most of them have ever experienced.

He said: "It's chance for them to see if they can compete at this level, an opportunity some may never get again."

Although Tweed himself won't play today, one who will is goalkeeper Andy McNeil, who many feel will have a point to prove having been freed by Hibs last summer.

McNeil could well be the busiest player on the park but Tweed believes the former Scotland Under-21 star will receive a warm welcome on his return to Easter Road.

He said: "There will be a lot of focus on Andy but I'm sure he'll get a great response from the fans. He's one of them, a Leith boy, a Hibs fan who helped win a Cup and the Easter Road supporters always look after their own."