Kilmarnock eye glory while Inverness CT have Scottish Cup 'opportunity'

Derek McInnes wants Kilmarnock's Viaplay Cup semi-final defeat against Celtic to spur his side on to secure a return to Hampden

Premiership strugglers Kilmarnock should be "putting a demand on ourselves" to win the Scottish Cup this season, says manager Derek McInnes.

The Rugby Park side visit Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Friday with a semi-final place at stake.

Kilmarnock are eyeing a swift return to Hampden after defeat by Celtic in the Viaplay Cup last four in January.

"I don't think the club has ever been to two semi-finals in any season in its history," said McInnes.

"So that's the first objective, to win this game and get to another semi-final.

"We spoke to the players after the semi-final defeat by Celtic and said the belief must be to come back to Hampden, go one step further and at least get to a final with the objective to try and win a cup.

"We don't just want to be happy to get to the semi-final though. We're a Premiership club and we should be putting a demand on ourselves to go and win a cup."

Inverness are sixth in the Championship, but stunned top-flight Livingston 3-0 in the previous round and beat Kilmarnock three times when they were both in the second tier last season.

"I'm sure, looking at the other teams in it, Inverness would have been quite happy with the draw, as were we," McInnes added.

"It's an opportunity for both teams, but we've got to use our experience from the League Cup and from dealing with Premiership games to make sure we're good enough to get the job done.

"Inverness are a more than capable side. They had an eye-catching result against Livingston who don't usually lose at home by that kind of score."

'Inverness players only have to look at the walls here to be inspired'

Inverness CT manager Billy Dodds wants his players to be inspired by the club's past Scottish Cup success as they bid to book their place in the semi-finals.

Caley Thistle won the trophy in 2015, beating Falkirk in the final.

"I want them to really realise what an opportunity we have got here," said Dodds.

"If the players want to be inspired and want to do something in their career that they remember, they only have to go 40 steps down the stairs [at the Caledonian Stadium] and have a look at the walls and see what can be there for them.

"Make sure they go and enjoy it, don't heap themselves with pressure whether it is finance, whether it is the opportunity to get to a semi-final, possibly a final.

"You don't want to put that pressure on the boys because I know if they go out there and enjoy it, my group of players, on their day, could get a favourable result."

Despite losing in the fourth round to Championship rivals Queen's Park, Inverness were handed a place in the last 16 after the Glasgow side were found to have fielded an ineligible player.

"If we can win this game, there are certainly opportunities for a brilliant draw in the semi-final but we have just got to look at this game and make sure we can try and beat Kilmarnock," Dodds added.