Grant Murray insists knowing the identity of Raith’s possible Hampden opponents should they get past Inverness Caley Thistle makes no odds to him or his team because reaching a semi-final is as big an incentive as they need.
Sunday’s draw paired the winners of tonight’s rearranged quarter-final with either Celtic or Dundee United in the last four of an intriguing Scottish Cup.
Having knocked out Rangers in the last round, Rovers will head for the Highlands today with belief they can cause another upset and make it back to the national stadium for the first time since losing their 2010 semi-final against Dundee United.
Murray believes that having the opportunity to create a piece of history for the Kirkcaldy club is plenty motivation for his players.
He said: “The big incentive for both teams is to get into the semi-final, first and foremost. It’s the same for Inverness.
“I’ve told the players I can tell them this, that and the next thing about how good it will be to get into a semi-final.
“But Inverness are in the exact same position.
“Now we just know, depending on who wins the replay, who we would face if we were fortunate enough to get through.
“But, no matter who we would face, it would be a big game anyway, with it being a semi-final at Hampden.
“To have got this far, we want to take it that one step further. Some of our players will have played in semis, some won’t.
“So, to go into a match realising you could get the club to a semi-final at Hampden should be a big enough incentive on its own.”
Murray is full of praise for the job done by Inverness counterpart John Hughes, who has steered the unfashionable Highlanders to third in the Premiership this season and within touching distance of European qualification.
The Stark’s Park boss has confessed his side will have to be at their best to have a chance of progressing.
He added: “Inverness are a team still in the Scottish Cup, they’re doing fantastic in the league and are fighting for a European spot of some kind.
“To have a season like that, at a club where people just think it’s a club stuck away up in the Highlands, it proves they’ve attracted a group of players that are capable of success.
“That is going to be the biggest challenge for us going up there and overcoming a team that is in a great position in the top league in Scotland and a team that is capable of beating anyone on their day.”