For all the plaudits Motherwell have received in challenging for a Europa League place - they sit fourth behind Aberdeen on goal difference but with a game in hand - Stephen Robinson's side go into tonight's game without a win in five outings.

St Mirren, who sit third bottom of the Premiership, are on an even longer run without a victory - six games since they breezed past junior side Broxburn Athletic 3-0 in the previous round.

Jim Goodwin's side have not had a victory on the road in four games since they overcame fellow relegation contenders Hamilton Academical 1-0 on 7 December. Their hosts have not won in the same number of home games since that same day, when they defeated Hearts by an identical scoreline.

Whoever breaks that trend will earn themselves a home tie against another top-flight side in the next round.

It was a tale of two firsts for a couple of loanees at Simple Digital Arena earlier this month.

Former Dundee midfielder Mark O'Hara opened his Well account since arriving from Peterborough United before Alex Jakubiak equalised with his first goal since the striker's move from Watford.

As St Mirren's Twitter account has been pointing out, a goal from Simeon Jackson, the Jamaican striker who left Kilmarnock to join Stevenage last month, secured the Paisley side's last win at Fir Park - in December 2018.

Motherwell go into tonight's game unbeaten in their latest five meetings with St Mirren, the Buddies' last win - a 1-0 Premiership success in December 2018 - coming at Fir Park.

The last time the two sides met in a February Scottish Cup replay, back in 2009, the Paisley side came out on top 1-0 at home after a 1-1 draw, Billy Mehmet scoring the winner five minutes from time. St Mirren went on to beat Celtic in the quarter-finals before losing to eventual winners Rangers in the semis.

St Mirren haven't reached the quarter-finals since March 2017, when they lost to Celtic. The last time Motherwell were in the last eight was a year later, when their run was also ended by the Glasgow side - but having reached the final.

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Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson has been forced to start striker Tony Watt due to injuries, but the Fir Park boss is convinced the former Celtic and St Johnstone striker has all the talent to succeed at Motherwell.

"He's very good - he has really impressed me," he tells BBC Radio Scotland. "His talent was never in question, but his drive and desire to get fit and to take on board what we're trying to do has really impressed me.

"I see a boy that can be a real asset for us. We know he won't be 100% tonight, but we'll get something out of him. I think he'll have an impact on the game."

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St Mirren manager Jim Goodwin expects a tight match and thinks the key to winning will come down to who can handle the weather the best.

"There was nothing between the two teams in the most recent fixture," he says. "Obviously it finished 1-1 in Paisley, so I expect something similar tonight.

"I think they're missing one or two players, which people might suggest will weaken them, but I think they have adequate replacements coming in to replace them.

"But we're coming here full of belief and confidence and a great carrot to get in to the quarter-final of the Scottish Cup."

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St Mirren manager Jim Goodwin had an unchanged squad from which to choose after Saturday's postponement allowed extra time for some minor niggles to be overcome.

But he makes one chance from the side that lost 2-1 away to Livingston 11 days ago, with Jamie McGrath replacing forward Junior Morias, suggesting a more conservative approach from the visitors.

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St Mirren manager Jim Goodwin admits his admiration for the Motherwell groundsmen after they ensured the game went ahead despite the poor weather.

But the Paisley boss doesn't think the surface will hold out very long once the game gets underway.

"The way it is right now at the moment it isn't actually too bad," he tells BBC Radio Scotland.

"I do expect it to cut up ever so slightly after 20 or 30 minutes, but I have to say Motherwell have done really well to get it in to the condition it is in right now.

"There is more rain forecasted. Hopefully, it isn't too bad, but nothing that will prevent the game from finishing."

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Scotland centre-half Declan Gallagher misses out with flu for Well, with Bevis Mugabi starting in his place, as manager Stephen Robinson makes four changes to his side from the one that lost 2-1 away to St Johnstone 11 days ago.

Mark O'Hara drops to the bench despite scoring in the 1-1 draw at Simple Digital Arena, with Liam Polworth replacing him in midfield.

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With Christopher Long dropping out with a thigh injury and on-loan Bournemouth forward Mikael Ndjoli still sidelined, it is all-change up front as recent signing Tony Watt is handed a first start alongside Ross McIver, with Jermaine Hylton dropping to the bench.

Christy Manzinga is available despite his red card against St Johnstone last week as his one-game ban applies to league action, but the France-born striker has to make do with a place on the bench.

This is the second time tonight's sides have been preparing to meet at Fir Park within four days after Saturday's Scottish Premiership game was blown away by Storm Dennis.

That league match has now been re-arranged for next Tuesday, weather permitting of course!

Meanwhile, with three other games in the Scottish Professional Football League being postponed on Saturday, St Mirren manager Jim Goodwin has predicted an eventual move to summer football - and welcomed the prospect.

Would you think it would be good for Scottish football to follow the example of the League of Ireland, as Goodwin suggests? Click thumbs up below for "yes", thumbs down for "no".

Motherwell: Gillespie, Hartley, Mugabi, Grimshaw, Carroll, Donnelly, Campbell, Polworth, MacIver, Watt, Aarons.

Substitutes: Carson, Tait, Seedorf, Manzinga, Hylton, Ilic, O'Hara.

St Mirren: Hladky, Hodson, McCarthy, Famewo, Waters, McGrath, Foley, MacPherson, Durmus, Jakubiak, Obika.

Substitutes: Urminsky, Wallace, K McAllister, Andreu, Mullen, Morais, Chabbi.

Two fifth-round ties have required replays and the draw earlier this month paired the winners of both in a quarter-final that will be broadcast live on BBC Scotland.

Whoever progresses tonight will await the victors of tomorrow evening's game between Aberdeen and Kilmarnock.

Friday, 28 February: Hibernian v Inverness Caledonian Thistle - live on BBC Scotland

Saturday, 29 February: Heart of Midlothian v Rangers; St Mirren/Motherwell v Aberdeen/Kilmarnock - live on BBC Scotland

Sunday, 1 March: St Johnstone v Celtic

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It's survived after all! Tonight's Scottish Cup replay between Motherwell and St Mirren was under threat yesterday as Storm Dennis continued to menace the country.

But Motherwell chief executive Alan Burrows has been supplying regular updates on Twitter and has told BBC Radio Scotland the tie has gone from "touch and go" to all systems go as we approach the 19:45 GMT kick-off. Let's just hope the heavens don't open again before kick-off

Stay with us for the build-up, live commentary and post-match reaction on BBC Radio Scotland and online.