CELTIC will face Ross County at Parkhead in the Betfred League last-16 after tonight’s ballot.
The holders were drawn by former Hoops defender Alan Stubbs after Hibs’ 4-1 win over Dundee at Easter Road.
Neil Lennon’s men met the Highlanders in September and had a runaway 5-0 success in Dingwall.
The clubs met twice in the east end of Glasgow last season on league business and the champions won twice, scoring nine goals in the process – a 6-0 victory in October and a 3-0 success in January.
The Hoops will be due to play on Sunday, November 29 as they are scheduled to meet shock squad Sparta Prague in the Czech Republic in the Europa League Group H encounter the previous Thursday.
The Hoops go into the tie aiming to win the silverware for the FIFTH consecutive season.
Celtic’s four consecutive triumphs in the competition were highlighted by CQN earlier today and have come against Aberdeen 3-0 to get the ball rolling in 2016, with Motherwell beaten 2-0 a year later, then the Dons again 1-0 and last season Chistopher Jullien got the winner against Steven Gerrard’s Ibrox side in another grand finale.
Lennon’s men go back into action in the Premiership on Saturday afternoon at Easter Road against a Hibs team boosted by tonight’s fine 4-1 victory over Championship Dundee.
The Hoops can move six points behind Steven Gerrard’s Ibrox side with a win plus they will still have a game in hand. The Govan outfit take on Aberdeen 24 hours later.
THE FULL DRAW IS:
CELTIC v Ross County
Falkirk v Rangers
Livingston v Ayr United
St Mirren v Aberdeen
Hibs v Dundee
Arbroath v Dunfermline
Motherwell v St Johnstone
Alloa v Hearts
Ties due on weekend November 28/29
