Dundee United centre-half Garry Kenneth sees certain similarities between this season’s Scottish Cup and last year’s competition.
United have a packed fixture programme after having so many games called off this season but Kenneth relishes a frenetic final few months of the campaign.
“I think we have got the depth in the squad to handle it,” he said.
“We have a lot of young players coming through the ranks who are all desperate to play their part.
“On top of that, the manager knows how exactly to tailor the training sessions right now.
“There is no point running us into the ground with so many games coming up.
“In saying that, I think with all the late equalisers we have had in recent games we have shown that we’re a really fit bunch of players.”
Manager Peter Houston said, “We could quite easily be out of the cup, lets be honest about it.
“We rode our luck at Ross County and got a break but sometimes in cup competition that’s what you need to do.
“Every team who has won a cup or done well in one would probably look back to a moment in a certain game and say it proved pivotal for them.
“Last season it was Damian Casalinuovo’s goal at Partick Thistle or David Robertson’s winner against Rangers.
“Maybe getting past Ross County on penalties will prove to be one of those.
“But Hamilton will be a massive test and I will be warning the players they can’t afford to give teams chances.
Accies first team coach Stuart Taylor said, “Dundee United are a very good side with plenty of experience all the way through their team.
“They definitely have the threats which need to be looked after and taken care of.
“But, certainly, there are weaknesses there that we have identified and that’s what we will be looking to hit as part of our aim to win the game.”
At the same stage 12 months ago, the Tangerines were quietly progressing towards the Hampden final they would go on to win against Ross County in May.
Blocking their path was a last-16 meeting away to a tough SPL rival in the shape of St Johnstone.
This time, they have to win at the home of Hamilton Accies in order to make the quarter-finals and keep alive their dream of repeating that fabulous feat.
Should they do so, they would become the only non-Old Firm side to achieve that since Aberdeen in 1983.
With Celtic and Rangers facing off at Ibrox on Sunday and third-placed Hearts out of the competition, Kenneth believes every other side is in with a great chance.
First United have to find a way past Accies and Kenneth knows it will be tough.
He said, “As things stand, the competition is opening up the way it did last year, so in a sense there are similarities.
“When Celtic got put out the semi-final from Ross County last season, we knew we had an even better chance of going all the way.”
He added, “I feel as though we will have a great chance of going on to win the cup again if we beat Hamilton on Saturday.
“As a kid, it was something you used to dream about.”‘Fresh legs’United saw their game against Inverness Caley Thistle called off due to bad weather in midweek and that allowed manager Peter Houston to get some of his injured players fit.
Kenneth believes the extra rest will be a positive for the team, especially against an Accies side hoping to forget about their relegation woes.
He said, “It was disappointing to travel all the way up to Inverness, only for the game to be called off.
“But the positive side to that is that the boys have fresh legs for this game.
“It is an early kick-off on the TV and we really just can’t wait for it to get started.”
He added, “I think Accies will be hard to break down as they usually are.
“They are a big, physical side so we know what to expect having played them numerous times before.
“We have just got to play our own game, keep passing it about, and hopefully take our chances when they come.
“They will be looking to put us out of the cup with the kind of result that could give them confidence in turn for the league.”