The former Hearts captain Don Cowie, signed last week from Tynecastle, could make his first appearance from the bench for the Staggies.

Overall, County make 10 changes to the side that defeated Hearts Colts 2-1 in the Irn Bru Cup midweek. However, they field exactly the same XI that beat Dunfermline in the Championship last weekend. The Dingwall club have a 100% record in the league this season and will be hoping a similar team will bring the same success this afternoon.

Ross County failed to beat Hibs in four meetings last season, with the Edinburgh side winning twice, including their only home match against today's visitors - 2-1 in December.

County have not won on their last three visits to Easter Road since a 1-0 win in December 2012 - and have lost their last two.

However, they have enjoyed a more recent win over Hibs - 2-1 in the March 2016 League Cup final.

Hibs assistant manager Gary Parker: "The Europa League game is gone and you just want to play again to get it off your system.

"We had a couple of tough games with Ross County last season and they are a decent side. It is going to be a tough day.

"We were looking to freshen it up and we want to go as far as we can in this cup."

Manager Neil Lennon makes six changes to the side that lost to Molde on Thursday.

Marvin Bartley suffered a hamstring tear in that match. Neil Lennon's men crashed to a 3-0 defeat in Norway as they exited the competition and there was further pain when midfielder Bartley picked up an injury just before half-time that could not rule him out for up to eight weeks. Vykintas Slivka also drops out of the midfield, so in come Emerson Hyndman and 21 year old Scott Martin, to make his first appearance.

Oli Shaw will lead the line at Easter Road, as both Jamie Maclaren and Florian Kamberi make way.

Image source, SNS

In goal, Adam Bogdan drops out the squad altogether, so Ross Laidlaw comes in, while new signing Daryl Horgan returns to the line-up after being ineligible to face Molde. Captain David Gray also returns in place of Paul Hanlon at the back.

Ghana winger Thomas Agyepong, the on-loan Manchester City winger, could make his first appearance from the bench after his work permit was granted.

Gordon Smith
Former SFA chief executive

Ayr are the only team outside of the Premiership who are so far through to the quarter-finals and the reward for their shock win at Dundee is another away draw - against Steven Gerrard's Rangers.

Holders Celtic are also away from home, against Premiership rivals St Johnstone.

Can Ross County join their Championship rivals, Ayr, in the next round and host Aberdeen?

Rangers v Ayr United

St Johnstone v Celtic

Hearts v Motherwell

Hibernian or Ross County v Aberdeen

Ties to be played 25/26 September

Hibs, knocked out of Europa League qualifying 3-0 on aggregate by Molde on Thursday, are looking to end a run of three games without a win.

But the Premiership side are unbeaten in four home games this season, scoring 12 times.

County have lived up to their billing as many people's favourites to win the Championship title after last season's relegation and arrive seeking a fifth consecutive victory.

Indeed, they have won three in a row away from Dingwall, scoring seven times.

Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland at Easter Road

Lots of changes from Neil Lennon with this game coming hot on the heels of Thursday’s disappointment in Norway - six in total. Adam Bogdan and Flo Kamberi drop out of the squad altogether as they struggle to shake off injury concerns. First appearance of the season for Scott Martin in midfield. Ross County, who’ve started the Championship season well, go for continuity, playing exactly the same team as the one that beat Dunfermline at East End Park.

Hibs yesterday signed Australia midfielder Mark Milligan, who had left Al-Ahli.

But the 33-year-old needs a work permit and misses out today.

Image source, Getty Images

Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke on BBC Radio Scotland: "A good cup tie. We are dis to go out, but we have gone out to a good team.

"I thought we were still in it to the death and, if we had got that penalty when Kris Boyd was pulled down, we might have had a chance.

"I am not going to be too critical of the players. It is about defending better as a team.

"We don't normally concede three goals and credit to Rangers for doing so."

Ross County co-manager Stuart Kettlewell on BBC Radio Scotland: "We are really looking forward to pitching ourselves against a good Premiership side.

"We'e made a reasonable start to the Championship.

"Even though people might say we still have Premiership players, the harsh reality of it is we are in the Championship and this is a challenge.

"We've got a confidence in our group of players."

Image source, SNS

Who impressed you? And who didn't?

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Billy Dodds
Former Scotland striker on Sportsound

Hibernian: Laidlaw, Gray, Ambrose, Porteous, Stevenson, Martin, Mallan, Hyndman, Horgan, Boyle, Shaw.

Substitutes: Dabrowski, Whittaker, Hanlon, Swanson, Slivka, Agyepong, Maclaren.

Ross County: Fox, Fraser, Morris, Watson, Kelly, Mullin, Lindsay, Draper, Vigurs, Gardyne, McManus.

Substitutes: Graham, Cowie, Munro, Demetriou, McKay, Tony Dingwall, Keillor-Dunn.

Steven Thompson
Former Scotland striker on BBC Sportsound

That's seven teams in the hat and the quarter-final draw is coming up before kick-off at Easter Road.

So that means there will be an either-or in there, Hibs or Ross County.

Gordon Smith
Former SFA chief executive

Rangers are into the quarter-finals of the Scottish League Cup.

They struggled against Steve Clarke's Kilmarnock last season, but they are a different beast this season.

Talking of beasts, bulldog striker Alfredo Morelos made a big impression again - this time with a hat-trick instead of moments of temper.

A thoroughly deserved win and that's nine games without defeat for Steven Gerrard's team.

Image source, SNS

Rangers sub Umar Sadiq is an awkward customer, but the striker makes a fool of himself with a theatrical and needless dive under pressure from Kirk Broadfoot.

No penalty.

Big call by the referee as Kris Boyd goes down as a high ball is launched into the penalty box.

Connor Goldson is a lucky boy as he has two hands on the Killie striker's back - and clipped his heels for good measure.