The teams have met once before and Cove Rangers pushed a strong Hibs side all the way at Balmoral Stadium before the visitors prevailed 2-1 in last season's early League Cup meeting.

Goals from Jamie Gullan and Kevin Nisbet rescued the Edinburgh side after Dan Higgins had opened the scoring.

Image source, SNS

Hibernian manager Shaun Maloney tells BBC Scotland: "We're playing a good team, it's a team that shouldn't be in League 1 - the players are of a higher level. They definitely have a manager who is a higher than that level.

"So we have to be at our very best to make it a positive night."

Shaun Maloney's path into management has been less conventional, stepping up to an assistant coach role with Belgium after a year at Celtic's under-20s and now getting the chance to go his own way at one of the country's biggest clubs.

Maloney won his first two games before this week's loss to Celtic and it already looks like Hibs will favour a more possession-based approach.

Maloney and Hartley were team-mates at Celtic and Scotland, so there will be a bit of catching up to do.

Cove Rangers boss Paul Hartley tells BBC Scotland: "Our form gives us lots of confidence, we've got nothing to lose.

"We know we're up against a good Hibs team, but we can play as well. We'll have a go and see where it takes us.

"We want to enjoy it but play well. We've changed the team a little bit tonight. It's a chance for the lads to show what they can do."

Image source, SNS

With Martin Boyle left out of the squad tonight after an improved bid from Al-Faisaly, Hibernian manager Shaun Maloney tells BBC Scotland: "There's nothing too definitive at the moment, there has been progression obviously.

"I had to make a decision tonight; best for the team and best for the player. In the next 24 to 48 hours we might have more information but I just had to make a decision tonight and that's where we're at."

Image source, SNS

Cove Rangers' most experienced asset is manager Paul Hartley, who knows all about the big time from winning trophies with Hearts and Celtic, while racking up 25 Scotland caps.

The 45-year-old led Alloa to successive promotions, then took Dundee up to the Scottish Premiership, where he had two full seasons. Things didn't go so well at Falkirk but he's back in the winning groove at Balmoral Stadium.

Hartley had a brief period at Hibs before he hit his stride with neighbours Hearts.

Brian Rice
Former Hamilton Academical manager on BBC Radio Scotland

Mitch Megginson has scored 72 goals for Cove Rangers, 16 coming this season.

The striker still has some way to go to catch his dad, Mike, who bagged 147 for the club.

Former Highland League kingpins Cove Rangers are seeking a third promotion in four seasons and have opened up a healthy eight point lead at the top of League 1.

The Aberdeen side are on a 15-game unbeaten run in all competitions and have won nine in a row in their division.

Image source, SNS

Hibernian: Macey, Cadden, Hanlon, Doig, Stevenson, Hallberg, Newell, Henderson, Campbell, Mueller, Doidge.

Substitutes: Dabrowski, Nisbet, Gogic, Wright, Murphy, Doyle-Hayes, Allan, Scott, Mackie.

Cove Rangers: Gourlay, Neill, Scully, Ross, Milne, Strachan, Yule, Fyvie, Masson, McIntosh, Megginson.

Substitutes: McKenzie, McAllister, Anderson, Adeyemo, Leitch, Reynolds.

Cove Rangers may be a part-time side, only winning their place in the SPFL set up in 2019, but they have players with top flight experience like Fraser Fyvie, Iain Vigurs and Shay Logan. However, the latter two miss out this evening after picking up knocks at the weekend.

Striker Rory McAllister only makes the bench, despite his great scoring record over the years.

Former Motherwell, Aberdeen and Dundee United defender Mark Reynolds joined this week but the 34-year-old must be content with a place beside McAllister.

Image source, SNS

This is Hibs' second match this week, following a 2-0 loss at Celtic Park on Monday.

The headline news is the omission of Martin Boyle, with Hibs' top scorer the subject of an improved offer from Saudi club Al Faisaly.

The hosts make five changes in total, with Ewan Henderson and Chris Mueller making their debuts, a first start since August for Christian Doidge, Melker Hallberg in for the first time this season and club stalwart Lewis Stevenson called in.

Kevin Nisbet, Dray Wright and Jake Doyle-Hayes drop to the bench and there's no sign of Rocky Bushiri.

Image source, SNS

Good evening and welcome to the first Scottish Cup tie of 2022 as the fourth round gets started at Easter Road.

Hibernian, last season's beaten finalists, take on League 1 leaders Cove Rangers - and the visitors are bang in form, with plenty of experience in their ranks.

A home draw for the top flight side makes an upset less likely but it promises to be an intriguing tie.

Our radio team are about to get up and running and TV coverage begins at 19:30 GMT on the BBC Scotland channel. You can chose both options at the top of this page.

Image source, SNS