Hibs have an outstanding chance of disposing of Rangers, and progressing to the next round of the Scottish Cup. So, will this test of Bobby's bairns show a strength of character or another glorious defeat.

A month ago, I would have resigned myself to a glorious defeat. It's the Hibs way after all, and has been for a long time. As I sat at the Celtic league cup game with approximately 5 minutes to go, I didnae dare to believe we could win. Celtic would score and force the game into extra time. No, more likely Celtic would score twice and I would feel utterly deflated. So whilst my seatmates jumped about like deluded radges imploring to me that we were going to do it, I didnae dare to believe.

And for once, and I'm glad to confess, they were right. I was wrong. I was the deluded radge. I was wrong not to have faith. For this team can do it. In the month of December, we inflicted the first domestic defeat on the all conquering Celtic side of 2003-2004. That they will win the league title is without doubt, and their performance against Rangers merely highlighted the fact that they are light years ahead of what is rapidly deteriorating into the worst Rangers side in living memory. Hibs had put up more fight against Celtic at Darkheid the week previously, until the unjust intervention of yet another numpty referee.

So therein is the crunch, fight to the finish. Rangers spookily scraped passed us in the league at ER a few games back with a last minute goal. Since then they have plummeted, and their form, morale, and general ability to pass a ball to a fellow team mate has deserted them. Barry, is it no?

Another encouraging sign from the Celtic game was that we went a goal behind and still won:- true character. Hopefully the young lads will remember that on Saturday, should the unthinkable happen and they forego their malaise and pop one past the best Swedish goalkeeper in Scotland.

The last time we beat Celtic in the quarter final of the CIS Cup, we drew the other half in the semi, and then put an old firm team out of the Scottish. Now is that not an omen?

BW has a lot of tough decisions to make, the largely unconvincing performance v Partick may well mean we see changes for this game. Our top scorer, Derek Riordan is back from suspension, and Tam McManus has recovered from illness. That will possibly mean more tactical changes, maybe with Stevie Whittaker replacing Stephen Glass at left back to allow Riordan to return. Whilst Dobbie scored, BW may want to return Tam the Bam to the team.

It all sets it up as an interesting contest, and if Hibs raise their game, which they ALWAYS do against the old firm, then we should see at the very worst a tight contest. At the very best, we could see a Hibs victory, and a second step towards our own treble.