Indeed, when looking at this tie it has all the requirements for a cup upset. The bigger club is struggling badly for form and though we will be boosted by Jennings returning from a ban, the absence of Blackman and Gow will reduce our creative options slightly. On the plus side, neither of these players has been at their best recently and if Sutton, Murphy and Humphrey can find their own best form we should still pose a threat.
Despite Clarkson's missed penalty Motherwell won this game in August 2004
The other element of the classic cup surprise, an underdog on the up, is certainly there. Dundee's financial situation has galvanised their players and fans and a magnificent winning run will have them full of confidence. Though a large points penalty, when it is finally confirmed, means they are not realistic promotion challengers, their position in a table not including the penalty shows just how strong they are - second and only just behind league leaders Dunfermline.
Our last visit to Dens Park was in 2005 when we threw away points by losing 2-1 having been a goal up. In the cup we hosted them in 2008 and lost by the same scoreline while our last Scottish Cup trip to Dens came way back in 1988 – another defeat, this time 2-0. It is worth nothing that we haven't beaten Dundee in either domestic cup competition since 1965 and our last victory over them in the Scottish Cup was 1952.
However, while a victory may be overdue it seems unlikely we will celebrate one on Sunday. A 1-1 draw may be the best we can expect from this contest.
Remember our last win at Dens?