St Mirren already have one trophy in the bag, surprising Celtic 3-1 in December’s League Cup final, and will hope another cup run can lift the gloom that has since descended over the Paisley side since.
Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat away to Dundee United leaves Stephen Robinson’s side only three points above Kilmarnock in the Premiership relegation play-off spot and having won just three times in 15 outings.
Two of those have came in the cup and they will have high hopes of progress, and a first win in six outings, given they are at home to a second-tier side.
Nevertheless, Thistle are unbeaten in seven outings, three on the road, albeit they have drawn their latest two against promotion rivals Dunfermline and Arbroath to slip five points behind leaders St Johnstone.
It is the Glasgow side’s first appearances in the cup last eight since 2019, when the 1922 winners lost to Hearts.
Three-time winners St Mirren also lost to Hearts in their last quarter-final appearance in 2022, having reached the semis the previous season.
Despite their recent problems, they will be strong favourites to deny Thistle a first semi-final appearance since 2002 and record a third straight home win over the Firhill side after League Cup victories in 2020 and 2021.
However, Mark Wilson’s side will arrive for a match being shown live on the BBC Scotland channel, iPlayer, online and app dreaming of a repeat of their last Scottish Cup visit to Paisley, when they won 2-1.
How they got there:
St Mirren needed extra-time before beating another Championship side, Airdrieonians, 2-1 away from home in the last round, having also needed penalties to oust Premiership rivals Livingston after a 1-1 draw in West Lothian.
Thistle have beaten three lower league sides so far, 2-0 away to League 2 side Forfar Athletic, 3-1 at home to third tier Montrose 3-1, then were made to fight by fourth-tier hosts Elgin City before prevailing 3-2.
