Killie will welcome back Kyle Lafferty from suspension for their first appearance at Hampden since 2012.
Lafferty, who last appeared in the quarter final victory against Dundee United, is expected to be involved in some capacity against Celtic on Saturday. According to manager Derek McInnes, the striker was “doing jumping jacks outside my office” and “brought me breakfast” in a bid to be involved.
Captain Alan Power said to Sky Sports: “He’s a livewire and someone who’s great to have around the changing room for us and even though he hasn’t been there for us on the pitch, he’s been quite good for us off the pitch. Energetic, been good in training and he’s eager to get back so he’ll be excited about this weekend, I’m sure.”
Killie have no fresh injury concerns, with Reading loanee Jeriel Dorsett out, and striker Innes Cameron out with a hamstring injury.
Kilmarnock defender Ash Taylor said: “People will say it’s a free hit, but in football you don’t get many of those. It’s a big cup game and we go into it feeling like we can get to the final.”
Killie’s top scorer for the season, Danny Armstrong, is, also, optimistic about his side’s chances, hoping to emulate the iconic victory in 2012: “People should have belief; the club has done it before and there’s no reason why we can’t do it again. It’s a one-off game and anything can happen.”
Kilmarnock famously won the cup by beating Celtic 1-0, courtesy of a Dieter Van Tornhout header in the 84th minute, back in 2012. Cammy Bell won Man of the Match for that game and, speaking to Killie Nation, hopes for a similar display from Killie’s current goalkeepers, Sam Walker, or Zach Hemming.
Kilmarnock go into this game on a mixed run of form. Two wins in their last six has helped them climb out of the relegation zone into 9th , whilst the come into this game on the back of a 2-0 defeat away to Celtic. They’ll take confidence in knowing how well they defended in the first half, losing a late goal in injury time. But they know they’ll need to concentrate for the full 90 minutes.
Willie Collum is the man in the middle, as he was in the League Cup Final in 2012, with Greg Aitken on VAR.
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