FORMER Motherwell and Rangers manager Stuart McCall believes the William Hill Scottish Cup is wide open this season - and more than one Championship club could be classed as contenders.
McCall feels the 12 Ladbrokes Premiership clubs are joined by Rangers and Hibernian as genuine challengers after the trophy was lifted by first-time winners for two seasons running.
The Scotland assistant coach helped make the fourth round draw at Hampden, which paired Hearts with Aberdeen in the tie of the round. Rangers were drawn immediately after Celtic, but not together, with Ronny Deila's men travelling to Stranraer, while Cowdenbeath or Arbroath will visit Ibrox. St Johnstone host Kilmarnock in another all-Premiership tie, while Dundee United visit Airdrie.
Holders Inverness face a trip to either Stirling or Lowland League side Cumbernauld Colts, while Motherwell will host Highland League opposition in the form of Cove Rangers or Formartine, who include former Fir Park midfielder Paul Lawson in their ranks.
McCall said: "Two seasons ago, St Johnstone won the trophy for the first time and Inverness won it last year. You never know in cup football.
"In my day, when I was at Rangers, you wanted to avoid Celtic and when I was at Motherwell, we wanted to avoid Celtic and Rangers. We managed to get through to the final in my first season at Motherwell. We avoided Celtic in the semi-final draw and were pleased. It's about the luck of the draw.
"All the Premiership sides, Rangers and Hibs will think they have a chance of going a long way and, to do that, you want a home tie and against sides below your level. Rangers will want to challenge themselves further down the line, but the main thing is just to get into the next round."
Rangers suffered their first defeat of the domestic season in the League Cup, losing 3-1 against St Johnstone, their first loss since McCall's men were beaten 6-1 on aggregate by Motherwell in the play-offs in May.
"Everyone will look back to how Rangers did against St Johnstone, not so well, St Johnstone were good on the day," McCall said.
"But I think Rangers and Hibs would be able to go up into the Premiership. Hearts went up last season and are flying high. Luck of the draw, why can't they go as far as they can? But I'm sure other clubs will be thinking the same again."
The ties will take place on the weekend of January 9-10.
SCOTTISH CUP FOURTH ROUND DRAW
St Johnstone v Kilmarnock; Dunfermline v Ross County; Stirling/Cumbernauld Colts v Inverness; Wick Academy/Linlithgow Rose v Queen's Park/Forfar; Dundee v Falkirk; Livingston v Morton; Dumbarton/Alloa v Queen of the South; Stenhousemuir/East Kilbride v Huntly/Lothian Thistle; Motherwell v Formartine United/Cove Rangers; Hearts v Aberdeen; Airdrie v Dundee Utd; Stranraer v Celtic; Rangers v Cowdenbeath/Arbroath; St Mirren v Partick Thistle; Inverurie Locos/Annan v Hamilton; Raith Rovers v Hibernian
