Rangers will face a tough start to life post Paul Le Guen with a Scottish Cup tie away to Premier League side Dunfermline on Sunday.

Following the Frenchman's sensational departure from the Ibrox club by mutual consent on Thursday, the beleaguered Glasgow club will face a difficult test against Stephen Kenny's side - despite the fact the Pars currently sit bottom of the SPL.

Ian Durrant, the Rangers reserve team coach, will take charge of the first team for the third round Scottish Cup tie and one of his first decisions is likely to concern Barry Ferguson.

The Scottish international midfielder was stripped of the captaincy by Le Guen on New Year's Day and left out of the squad which won 1-0 at Motherwell on January 2.

However, Durrant is almost certain to recall Ferguson to the first team on Sunday. While Dunfermline are rooted to the bottom of the SPL with only 14 points from 23 games, they recorded a 1-1 draw against Rangers at East End Park earlier in the season and Irishman Kenny will be hoping to cause another upset.

SPL leaders Celtic, meanwhile, will hope to avoid the embarrassment they experienced at this stage in the Scottish Cup last season when they play host to Third Division side Dumbarton on Saturday.

Last year Gordon Strachan's side, with Roy Keane making his debut, lost 2-1 away to First Division side Clyde.

And Celtic's Irish international Aiden McGeady is determined to avoid another shock this time round.

He said: "Losing to Clyde in the Scottish Cup last year was one of the worst moments in the last 12 months.

"We expected to win the game but they played well and we were terrible and we deserved to get beaten.

"It would be a disaster for us to go out at this stage as we want to win the Cup and hopefully we'll take the first step towards doing that on Saturday."

Cup holders Hearts should easily continue their defence of the trophy by seeing off Stranraer at Stair Park.

However, Gerry Britton, manager of the Second Division side, believes they can surprise the Tynecastle team in their first ever visit to the ground.

He said: "We are up against the cup holders, who play two divisions above us, but home advantage is a big plus for us.

"They have never played at Stair Park but it is a windy road down to Stranraer, the pitch is nice and open to the elements and we will try to make the most of that by getting in their faces and stopping them playing their football."

In the only two other all-SPL ties Dundee United play host to St Mirren on Sunday while Aberdeen and Hibernian have to wait until Wednesday to face each other at Pittodrie.

Other matches involving SPL sides are Motherwell away to First Division Airdrie, Falkirk at Third Division Berwick, Kilmarnock visiting Second Division leaders Morton and Inverness Caledonian Thistle away to Stirling Albion, who are second in the Second Division.

Last year's Scottish Cup runners-up Gretna are away to Clyde, whom they defeated 4-0 after a replay in last season's competition, following the Broadwood side's shock Celtic victory in the previous round.

Fixtures (1500 GMT unless stated)

Saturday

Airdrie United v Motherwell, Berwick v Falkirk, Celtic v Dumbarton, Clyde v Gretna, Cowdenbeath v Brechin, Deveronvale v Elgin, Dundee v Queen of the South, Hamilton v Livingston, Morton v Kilmarnock, Ross County v Partick, St Johnstone v Ayr, Stirling v Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Stranraer v Hearts

Sunday

Dundee United v St Mirren, Dunfermline v Rangers (1215 GMT)

Wednesday

Aberdeen v Hibernian (1945 GMT)