The referee's whistle echoes around the empty Ibrox stands as Rangers kick off.

Are Cove destined for one of the biggest shocks in Scottish Cup history or will the hosts set up a last-16 derby at home to Celtic?

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard tells Premier Sports: "I think Cove are in a fantastic place domestically. They’re in good form and it’s a great story and a great dream for them, but its my job to take that dream away from them."

Forward Scott Wright makes his first start for Rangers since signing from Aberdeen in January.

"He’s a great kid," Gerrard adds. "He’s taken on a lot of information in short pace of time, he’s worked really hard on his fitness and we think he’s ready now."

Allan McGregor has been given a well-earned rest having signed a contract extension with Rangers.

The 39-year-old had retired from international football to elongate his Ibrox career and has kept Jon McLaughlin sitting on the bench for much of the season.

However, it is the current Scotland squad member who starts tonight.

Image source, SNS

The difference in the two set ups is highlighted by the fact that nine Rangers players were away on international duty over the past week.

Most notable was Northern Ireland captain Steven Davis breaking the British international caps record against Bulgaria with his 126th appearance.

Cove's main man is captain Mitch Megginson, the striker who started his career with Aberdeen before helping his present side rise from the Highland League to League 1 and who has continued to score goals at higher levels - he has nine in 16 appearances this season.

Fellow 28-year-old Dons product Fraser Fyvie is even better known given his brief spell with Wigan Athletic before time with Hibernian and Dundee United in what would have probably been a more illustrious career had it not been hampered by serious injury.

Image source, SNS

Chick Young
BBC Scotland pundit on Sportsound

Rangers: McLaughlin, Patterson, Goldson, Helander, Bassey, Davis, Kamara, Arfield, Wright, Roofe, Defoe.

Substitutes: McGregor, Simpson, Balogun, Hagi, Kent, Aribo, Stewart, Itten, Morelos.

Cove Rangers: McKenzie, Scully, Scott Ross, Watson, Megginson, Masson, Higgins, Livingstone, Graham, Smith, Fyvie.

Substitutes: Demus, Strachan, Yule, McIntosh, McAllister, Seb Ross, Logan, Ngwenya, Hanratty.

Strangely, given the season they are having, Rangers are without a win in three outings and lost their unbeaten home record this season last time out at Ibrox when they Slavia Prague's 2-0 success sent the Glasgow side out of the Europa League.

However, manager Steven Gerrard will want the side sitting 20 points clear in the Premiership to chase a domestic double after clinching their first league title in 10 years.

Cove, meanwhile, have revived their promotion challenge after a sticky patch during December and sit second, four points behind Falkirk, who managed to frustrate Celtic in Glasgow yesterday until losing three goals in the last quarter.

Paul Hartley's side are unbeaten in six outings, four of them away from home, including a mini-shock by beating Championship side Alloa Athletic 3-2 away from home in the previous round.

Image source, SNS

Paul Hartley had warned that he would make changes in the midst of a heavy promotion push and he makes five changes from their 2-0 win over Airdrieonians last midweek.

Daniel Higgins and Adam Livingstone come into defence ahead of Ryan Strachan and Aberdeen loanee Kieran Ngwenya.

Broque Watson, Jamie Masson and on-loan Hearts man Connor Smith come into midfield, replacing Blair Yule, Seb Ross and forward Leighton McIntosh.

Image source, SNS

Only four players - centre-backs Connor Goldson and Filip Helander and midfielders Glen Kamara and Steven Davis - retain their places for Rangers since the 1-1 draw with Celtic last time out.

It means a rare start for Jon McLaughlin in goal ahead of Allan McGregor, with Kemar Roofe and Jermain Defoe up front.

Image source, SNS

Cove Rangers manager Paul Hartley says "one or two boys might be disappointed" with his team selection as he has to bear in mind his side's heavy league programme for his promotion-chasing side.

"It’s the biggest game in the club’s history but one we are all looking forward to," he said.

"They are the best team in the country and were outstanding in Europe this season, so it will be tough.

"We are up against it, but we will go there with a game plan aimed at putting in a good performance and seeing where that takes us.

"The only disappointing thing is there will be no crowd there. It’s a shame the players won’t get the chance to experience the thrill of playing in front of a big crowd at Ibrox.

"My biggest problem is I’ve got to try and pick the right team and also do the same again 48 hours later because we also have an important league match against Clyde."

Image source, SNS

After Championship side Inverness Caledonian Thistle's win away to top-flight Highland rivals Ross County on Friday, the third round has been bereft of any major shocks.

Dundee United were struggling at home to Partick Thistle and Raith Rovers were also ahead of Livingston at one stage, while Aberdeen laboured against Dumbarton, but all three Premiership sides progressed.

Can League 1 promotion hopefuls Cove be the ones? If they did, it would be an even bigger surprise than the Ibrox club's famous 1-0 defeat by yet another Rangers - the Berwick version - back in 1967.

Image source, SNS

Fourteen sides who have already progressed to the fourth round know who their next opponents will be.

Aberdeen at home to Livingston is the only definite all-Premiership tie after today's draw, but the odds are stacked highly in favour of Rangers making it two.

Their incentive for a victory over their League 1 visitors is a fourth meeting of the season with Glasgow rivals Celtic.

It would be the first Old Firm Scottish Cup derby since Celtic eased to a 4-0 win in the 2018 semi-final.

The build-up to tonight's game has started on BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound, with former Rangers players Charlie Adam and Richard Foster among the pundits joining host Richard Gordon and journalist Chick Young.

You can tune in by clicking the link at the top of this page.

We'll be back here with more updates shortly once we get closer to kick-off.

Image source, SNS

A busy weekend of Scottish Cup third-round action continues tonight at Ibrox as league champions Rangers host their namesakes from Cove.

This afternoon's draw means holders Celtic lie in wait for the winners.

That would be an equally daunting prospect for the visitors should they manage one of the competition's biggest-ever upsets - and a tasty prospect for the TV schedulers if the hosts progress and the two Old Firm sides meet in a last-16 derby.

Stay with us for the build-up, live commentary and post-match reaction.

Image source, SNS