Scottish League Cup PREVIEW 12 Sep 2026: Ross County Host Hibs, Kilmarnock Face Aberdeen in Quarter-Finals

Ross County host Hibernian and Kilmarnock host Aberdeen in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-finals on 12 September 2026, with both winners through to Hampden Park semi-finals.

Ross County manager Stuart Kettlewell has called on his players to produce a "landmark performance" to reach Hampden for the first time in a decade, and made eleven changes in a midweek league fixture to keep key players fresh for the tie, resting striker Brian Graham among others. Hibernian head coach David Gray warned his players not to underestimate County despite their League One status, saying "County are a Premiership side who have dropped down" after successive relegations, and said reaching Hampden had been a squad target since the first day of pre-season. Gray's side face the tie with defensive options stretched: the sale of Warren O'Hora and injuries to Rocky Bushiri, Jordan Obita and Grant Hanley have left him short at the back, though Jack Iredale returns from suspension and new signing Marko Ivezic is fit again after feeling unwell.

Kilmarnock host Aberdeen at Rugby Park having beaten Ayr United to reach this stage, with Aberdeen coming through a 3-0 win over Dundee. The pair met in the Scottish Premiership the previous weekend and drew 0-0, and Kilmarnock manager Neil McCann said the cup tie has "a different feel", promising his side would be "aggressive" because "it's got a slightly different edge to it because it's a knockout competition." A win would take Kilmarnock back to Hampden for the first time since January 2023. Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson praised his opposite number - "I really like Neil, get on really well with him" - while warning of Kilmarnock's attacking threat in behind. Kilmarnock defender Robbie Deas is unavailable through injury; Aberdeen have ongoing issues with Brad Lyons, Emmanuel Gyamfi, Kusini Yengi and Kristers Tobers, and go into the tie winless in their last three matches.