Billy Stark
is fully aware of the task at hand for the visit to Ibrox:"First and foremost we were delighted to be in the draw for the quarter-finals. We were the only first division team so in any game we would be underdogs, but this is the most difficult draw we could have been given. It will be a real test for us but we have to look to experience this arena and see how we handle it. We would all love to progress to the final, but this type of draw makes that a lot more difficult—we will clearly be rank outsiders. You have to categorise and say that the Old Firm are a different proposition, but we did great against Dunfermline and I think we will do well at Ibrox. They have a great record there and it will be a tough, tough task for us. However we will enjoy the underdog tag and look for our best players to step up to the challenge. The chairman tells me it’s 40 or so years since we won at Ibrox, but cups do throw up the odd shock."
Simon Donnelly’s memories from Ibrox are both good and bad but he is happy with the draw:
"I'm quite happy with the draw and when you get to the quarter-final stages you take anybody. I'm sure a lot of the guys will enjoy going to Ibrox. There will no doubt be a welcoming committee waiting for me due to my Celtic connection and I will be prepared for that. There is no better stage to play on than Celtic Park or Ibrox. However, the League Cup holds bitter and sweet memories for me, especially at Ibrox. I remember coming on as a substitue and winning the League Cup with Wim Jansen's Celtic team in 1997 at Ibrox against Dundee United and that was a great feeling. I won at Ibrox a few times when I was a Celtic player so I know what it takes to win there. I also lost in THAT Coca-Cola Cup final against Raith Rovers in 1994 at Ibrox. So I have experienced both sides of the coin in this competition. I was reminded of that League Cup loss to Raith Rovers a few days ago. I was only a young player in the Celtic team and I don't think people realised back then just how massive an upset it really was. It was a shock on the day but these things happen. Hopefully Saints can now go to Ibrox and come away feeling the way those Raith Rovers players must have felt that day. It's one of those games you push to the darkest recesses of your mind you just want to forget all about it.'"
"And at 28 I'll probably be looked up on as one of the veterans in the side. We can go there and we will be under no pressure whats over to get a result that will be a nice change for us because in league games we are constantly under pressure to win. Saints are one of the favourites to go up to the SPL from the First Division so hopefully we can go to Ibrox and give a good account of ourselves. Rangers are a great side and have real quality in their ranks. But we have players in the St Johnstone side like Paul Bernard, Mixu Paatelainen and Mark Reilly who have performed at SPL level and who have played at Ibrox before. They know what is expected of you when you play there. Usually when I played at Ibrox it was in an Old Firm game and it doesn't really get much better than that."