On paper, it’s probably the easiest draw of the League Cup quarter-final stage. The first two names out of the bowl were Celtic and Raith Rovers, meaning the other six Premiership teams still in the competition can fight among themselves for a place in the semi-finals.

Celtic have been formidable at home this season; 18 goals scored across four domestic matches, and the divisional disparity between the sides points towards this game only going one way. Famous last words though, Morton and Falkirk have both robbed the Louvre in the last 15 years, in 2006 and 2013 respectively, as well as Hearts on a couple of occasions, although they pose a different challenge. 

Celtic hosting Raith in the League Cup is nothing new. The pair’s final in 1995 holds its own place in Scottish football history but, in the last decade, Celtic have dealt with them twice at home, winning 2-0 in 2015 and 4-1 three years before that. Celtic also beat them in 2000 at the start of Martin O’Neill’s treble season in what was Alan Thompson’s debut.

Celtic head into the match still feeling the effects of a sobering defeat to Livingston on Sunday, their fourth defeat in five games. Raith don’t play as many games as Celtic but since they overcame Aberdeen on August 15 to reach this stage, they’ve kicked on and have won, rather than lost, four of their last five after a dramatic opening-day draw against Accies in which they relinquished a 4-0 lead with 20 minutes to play. 

Watch out for... Dylan Tait.

The 19-year-old midfielder was signed by Hibs on deadline day after he impressed in a pre-season friendly between the clubs and was loaned back until January. A four-year deal underlines Hibs' faith in the teenager, who also shone against Premiership opposition when Raith knocked Aberdeen out of the League Cup with a 2-1 win at Starks Park. He's an energetic boy with power to flow alongside the ability that's seen him be part of the Raith first-team picture for a few years now and has attracted scouts for some time before Hibs pulled the trigger. He averages at least one progressive run and shot on target per game, although he's likely not to have the time to do that against Celtic.

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Blaise Riley-Snow
The Londoner signed for the Fife club just more than two months ago after a couple of years in Alicante in Spain's fifth tier. He grew up playing for Brentford and Barnet but had to salvage his career on the continent, alongside a couple of other lads released from Barnet, before being given a chance in Kirkcaldy. He's only on a deal until the new year but manager John McGlynn has implied he's on the right road for an extension. Riley-Snow is a strong defensive midfielder who averages more than 10 recoveries a game, intercepts the ball around five times a game and has a pass success rate better than 75 per cent. He's also won more than half his duels in the Championship this season and depending on what midfielders are deployed for Celtic, he could be an intimidating opponent in central midfield.

You've probably heard of... Dario Zanatta.

He's been the club's best player this season and has scored five goals already. Still only 24-years-old, it feels like Zanatta, who's Canadian, has been on the Scottish football scene for some time but that's probably because of all his initial loan moves from Hearts to clubs like Queens Park, Alloa and Raith, as well as short stints at Thistle and Ayr United after he was released. Now at Starks Park on a permanent basis, Zanatta is going from strength to strength, going on nearly four progressive runs forward per game, completing nearly two-thirds of any attempted dribbles and having three efforts on goal on average every game this season. A livewire on the left, he likes to cut in and use his stronger foot, which has reaped benefits against Hamilton and Aberdeen this term, against whom he scored the winning goal in the previous round.

READ MORE: Do Celtic have a case of the spooks playing Livingston away from home?

You've definitely heard of... Christophe Berra.

Now 36 years old, Berra is in the twilight of his career in Fife.  We all know who he is though given his time spent with Hearts and the Scottish national team, for whom he garnered 41 caps. He doesn't have, or never has had, the pace to cope with players like Liel Abada and Jota, but if Rovers can replicate Livingston and are resolute on Thursday to force Celtic into wide areas before crossing, that's where the big man can dominate in his own box. He's won 75 per cent of his defensive duels this season and 70 per cent of the ones in the air. He also clears the ball nearly five times per game, making him an important part of the Raith rearguard.