Hibernian confident of Cup progress

The leading Scottish clubs kick-off on the Cup trail today - weather permitting - and they could still be on the road to Hampden.

The national stadium in Glasgow will be a building site come the date of the final on Saturday 18 May. The Scottish Football Association, however, seems unlikely to move the traditional end-of-season showpiece away from Hampden, despite a cut in capacity.

Only an Old Firm meeting of Celtic and Rangers, and all the pressure for tickets that would create, might force a rethink. "At this stage it is still the intention of the International Committee and the Executive Committee to carry on playing at Hampden if possible," Jim Farry, the SFA chief executive, said. The ground's old south stand is to be demolished within weeks, leaving the capacity in a three-sided stadium at 34,000.

"The Executive Committee, who decide venues for cup finals and semi-finals, will look at ties on a game-to-game basis," Farry added. "Decisions will be based on safety and the suitability for use of Hampden as work progresses. Clubs have carried on using grounds during redevelopment, so why not at the national stadium?"

The undersoil heating at Easter Road should ensure Hibernian take on Kilmarnock in the third round before Whitehill meet Celtic on the same Edinburgh turf tomorrow. Hibernian have not won the Cup for 94 years since beating Celtic 1-0 in 1902. Alex Miller's side took Celtic to a replay in the semi-finals last season but failed at the final hurdle.

They have won only once in the last eight games, but Miller said: "This is not a make-or-break game. The Cup is a one-off and, if we play our best football, we can go through." Steven Tweed is injured while Darren Dods and Pat McGinlay are suspended, but Gordon Hunter and David Farrell could return. Kilmarnock could be unchanged for the fifth game in a row after remaining unbeaten in 1996 so far.

The Tynecastle transformation effected by Jim Jefferies has left Hearts in buoyant mood for their campaign, and last week's 3-0 win over Rangers should swell the attendance against Partick across Edinburgh. "It's a different game from Rangers but, if we score early, I'd expect us to win comfortably," Jefferies said.

Only six games today are expected to beat the weather: Keith v Rangers (at Pittodrie), Ross County v Forfar, Hibernian v Kilmarnock, Hearts v Partick, Hamilton v St Johnstone (at Firhill) and Caledonian Thistle v East Fife.