Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has urged his Dons players to grasp their last opportunity of winning silverware this season.
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has conceded the Scottish Cup represents the Ibrox club’s last chance of winning a trophy this season with Celtic eight points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.
It is a similar situation for the Dons, who defeated the Gers 1-0 in the semi-finals of the League Cup before going on to lose by the same scorelines against Celtic at Hampden in December.
McInnes hopes his side can achieve a cup double over the Gers, who head into the match in ruthless form having scored 14 goals in their past three games.
The Dons manager said: “The cups, certainly for us and probably for Rangers at the minute, even though they are playing well, offer the best chance of success.
“Both clubs will see it is a real opportunity. We are one of the few teams who can go and win the cup.
“It is an opportunity for either side to put one of the key teams out of it.
“We just want to bring a performance we know we are capable of and one we have shown in the past.
“If we can do that then we know we can deliver the result and hopefully we can do that on Sunday.
“We have been to one final by beating good teams, Rangers included, along the way.
“If we want to get to another final we are going to need to beat another good Rangers team.
“Stevie has put a fantastic squad together with some good players but we have shown we are capable of laying a glove on them and getting the result.”
The Dons have toiled on their own patch in recent weeks with Hamilton’s surprise 2-0 victory meaning the Dons have won only once in seven games at Pittodrie ahead of their meeting with Gerrard’s Gers.
McInnes said: “Failing to beat St Mirren and Hamilton at home were missed opportunities and so we totally understand the disappointment because there is nobody more disappointed and frustrated than us.
“Sunday demands that competitive side that my team show when they are at their best and there is no doubt the supporters will be right behind the team.”
With a place in Monday’s semi-final draw at stake, the Aberdeen manager is expecting another feisty encounter against Rangers.
He added: “There is a huge rivalry between both sets of clubs and there is no love lost.
“The game, itself, can be difficult to referee.
“The supporters will demand the game is played in a certain way, with plenty of tackles and aggression and huge commitment.
“All that is important but there is also a need for calmness, discipline, organisation and real concentration on the job.
“When we have beaten Rangers this season we have had brilliant concentration and very few mistakes have been made.
“We have been very smart with work as well as being competitive and there will be a balance of all that for us to get a result on Sunday.”
James Wilson (thigh), Max Lowe (knee) and Gary Mackay-Steven (ankle) all face late fitness tests but McInnes added: “They have all still got a chance and we haven’t ruled them out yet.
“We are hopeful rather than confident but I am hopeful we will have some available.”