Preview: Hibernian vs. Rangers - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors have seen off Dumbarton and Ayr United in this year's competition, while their hosts have triumphed in trips to Forfar Athletic and Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Match preview

Hibernian return to Easter Road in Scottish Cup action on Sunday with the aim of advancing to the semi-finals, having dropped out in the fourth round and the final four in the previous two seasons, both at the hands of Edinburgh rivals Hearts.

Their latest campaign began in the fourth round in January with a trip to fourth-tier Forfar Athletic, and they were able to progress, albeit in unconvincing fashion, as Christian Doidge netted the only goal of the tie 20 minutes from time.

That result set up an away tie against Inverness Caledonian Thistle in February with a quarter-final spot on the line, and Nick Montgomery's side would again come out on top on their travels, picking up a more impressive 3-1 win, with the hosts' injury-time goal nothing more than a consolation after Myziane Maolida, Martin Boyle and Elie Youan had put the game out of sight with second-half goals.

The Hibees have enjoyed a pleasing run of form since that triumph, in their bid for a top-six finish in the regular Scottish Premiership season, climbing into the top half with a four-match unbeaten streak as they most recently drew 1-1 with third-placed rivals Hearts before most recently beating Ross County 2-0 on Saturday thanks to goals from Maolida and Dylan Levitt.

With confidence now growing in the camp after a slow first half to the season, Hibernian will set out to keep building momentum on Sunday with a victory at Easter Road to book their place in the final four of this year's competition.

That will certainly be no easy task, though, as Rangers arrive in fine form while competing impressively on all fronts under the tutelage of Philippe Clement.

With four trophies available to the Glasgow giants this season, Sunday's visitors have already scooped up the Scottish League Cup title with a triumph over Aberdeen in the final while currently leading the Scottish Premiership by two points and having gained a creditable 2-2 draw away at Portuguese giants Benfica on Thursday in the first leg of their Europa League round-of-16 tie.

The Gers' bid to win a 35th Scottish Cup in their history began with a fourth-round trip to Dumbarton, and they progressed with a 4-1 victory courtesy of goals from John Lundstram, Cyriel Dessers, James Tavernier and Scott Wright, before meeting Ayr United at Ibrox with a quarter-final spot on the line.

Clement's side would again come out on top in that meeting to reach the final eight, beating the second-tier side 2-0 thanks to goals from Fabio Silva and Borna Barisic, before building momentum and taking pole position in the top flight with victories over Ross County, St Johnstone, Hearts and Kilmarnock.

Their last league game did end in a shock 2-1 home defeat to Motherwell at the weekend, but now on the back of an impressive midweek result in the Portuguese capital, forcing a draw with Tom Lawrence and Dujon Sterling on the scoresheet ahead of their home leg, Rangers will turn their focus to the Scottish Cup with the aim of advancing to the semi-finals and further improving their chances of winning multiple pieces of silverware this year.

Hibernian Scottish Cup form:

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Hibernian form (all competitions):

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Rangers Scottish Cup form:

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Rangers form (all competitions):

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Team News

Nick Montgomery may opt to field an unchanged Hibernian starting XI on Sunday from their 2-0 home win over Ross County last time out, although Dylan Levitt is vying for a spot in the midfield after coming on at half time in that game and netting their second goal.

He will likely join Joe Newell in the engine room in their 4-2-3-1 shape, while Rocky Bushiri and Manchester United loanee Will Fish will continue their centre-back partnership.

At the top end of the pitch, Dylan Vente will continue to lead the line with support from Martin Boyle and January arrivals Emiliano Marcondes and Myziane Maolida, both of whom have made a fast start to life in Edinburgh with a combined tally of six goals thus far.

In the midst of a busy schedule on all fronts and facing a quick turnaround form a hard-fought draw in Lisbon on Thursday, Philippe Clement will likely shuffle his pack somewhat on Sunday, albeit with limited options for rotation as Todd Cantwell, Oscar Cortes, Danilo, Kieran Dowell, Rabbi Matondo and Abdallah Sima remain confined to the treatment room.

Ryan Jack and Nicolas Raskin may come into the midfield from the outset, affording rests for Ousmane Diomande and John Lundstram, while Ross McCausland and Kemar Roofe are some of the only remaining attacking reinforcements given their extensive injury issues up top.

Roofe could lead the line with support from McCausland, Tom Lawrence and Fabio Silva, while at the other end of the pitch, Ben Davies will hope to earn an opportunity at the heart of the defence with John Souttar having been preferred alongside Connor Goldson recently.

Hibernian possible starting lineup:

Marshall; Miller, Fish, Bushiri, Obita; Levitt, Newell; Boyle, Marcondes, Maolida; Vente

Rangers possible starting lineup:

Butland; Tavernier, Goldson, Davies, Barisic; Jack, Raskin; McCausland, Lawrence, Silva; Roofe

We say: Hibernian 1-2 Rangers

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