THE Scottish Cup reaches the fourth round stage this weekend and the Pars are 100/1 outsiders with Unibet to win the competition. Celtic are the 11/10 favourites (10 Bet), Rangers are 7/1 (Bet365), Aberdeen 15/2 (10 Bet), Hibernian 20/1, Hearts 25/1 (Paddy Power), St Johnstone 30/1 (Unibet), Motherwell 33/1 (Betvictor), Kilmarnock 35/1 (Unibet) and thereafter it is 50/1 bar.

Celtic, need it be said, are the most likely winners. However, with Hibs playing Hearts, Kilmarnock hosting Ross County and Motherwell meeting Hamilton, as well as various minnows being drawn together, there is a fair possibility that a less heralded team could go far in the competition. Two sporting alternatives against the big guns are St Johnstone (30/1 with Unibet) and Dundee (50/1 with Betvictor; each way terms ½ odds 1,2).

Dunfermline are not without a chance of making an impact in the tournament and they entertain fellow Championship play-off hopefuls Greenock Morton on Saturday. The Pars are 5/4, a draw 23/10 and the ’Ton 5/2 (Bet365). Come the end of the season, there might not be a lot in it between the two clubs in the league standings but current form and home advantage points to Dunfermline holding sway on this occasion.

Prediction: Dunfermline 1 Greenock Morton 0.

Aberdeen start the ball rolling with a Saturday lunchtime clash at home to St Mirren (BBC Scotland, 12.15pm). The Dons are playing a rejuvenated outfit and Skybet’s 2/5 is not unreasonable. The Buddies are 7/1 and a draw 9/2 (Hills).

Celtic play Championship strugglers Brechin at 3pm in a non-televised match and with the Bhoys 1/33 to book their place in the next round it is likely to be a question of how many they win by. Somewhere between three and four goals is the opinion of the bookmakers; Celtic off a -3 handicap are 10/11 (Brechin being 11/5 and the tie 18/5) whilst off -4 they are 2/1 (Brechin are evens and the tie 4/1).

Two games are being televised on Sunday by Sky Sports; the ‘romantic tie’ pits Fraserburgh, currently second in the Highland league, against Rangers (12pm kick-off). Predictably, the match prices are one-sided; Rangers are 1/14, a draw 12/1 (Betvictor) and Fraserburgh 30/1. The Rangers -3 handicap prices are the most competitive: the Gers are 6/4, Fraserburgh 13/10 and the tie 7/2.

The so-called ‘tie of the round’ is the Edinburgh derby with Hearts and Hibernian doing battle at Tynecastle (2.05pm). The layers slightly favour the Hi-Bees at 8/5 (Hills), the Jam Tarts are 19/10 and a draw 12/5 (Bet365).

The cup action has meant that the Premier League matches have been rearranged to the following week. Partick Thistle host Celtic on Tuesday night (BT Sport, 7.45pm); the Bhoys are 1/5 (Skybet), a draw 13/2 (Betfair Sportsbook) and the Jags 18/1 (Coral).

On Wednesday, the outstanding game is at Ibrox where Rangers host Aberdeen and the prices are the Gers 10/11, a draw 13/5 (Stan James) and Aberdeen 10/3 (Bet365).