But this is a great opportunity to get into a semi-final at this stage of the season."Jim Duffy, whose Dundee knocked out Premier opponents Kilmarnock in the last round, will look to the Scotland Under-21 internationals, Neil McCann and Jim Hamilton, to try and help his side claim a place in the semi-finals. "We must do better at Dens Park and we were disappointed to create so few chances against Thistle. Allan Johnston is doubtful for the Edinburgh club with a leg injury but Gary Mackay could return from the start after appearing as a substitute in Saturday's 2- 0 defeat at Partick Thistle."That result was a kick up the backside for us," Jefferies said. "A place in the semi-final would help in that and if we play to our potential we can go through."Hearts, regular semi-finalists in recent years, bid for another under the management of Jim Jefferies at First Division Dundee. With the forwards playing well for us and for them it could come down to how either side defends."McLeish's charges claimed three victories over his old club in his first season at Motherwell last year and Aberdeen are likely to be unchanged from the side that drew 1-1 with Hibernian on Saturday, with the goalscorer, Duncan Shearer, sidelined."We are looking to challenge for honours in every trophy we enter as quickly as possible," said McLeish's counterpart, Roy Aitken.

"A semi-final place is a tremendous incentive for both sides," said McLeish, who has a full squad to choose from apart from his long- term injury victims, Mitchell Van der Gaag and Miodrag Krivokapic. "Both sides know a lot about each other, so I doubt if there will be any surprises. With a semi-final berth at stake, the Motherwell manager's energies will be wholly focused on the advancement of his Fir Park side who enjoy home advantage. There will be no place for sentimentality tonight when Alex McLeish seeks to deny Aberdeen, the club he served as a player for 17 years, a place in the last four of the Scottish Coca-Cola Cup. Standings after 3 rounds: 1 South Africa 6pts; 2 Zimbabwe 6; 3 Nigeria 3.. 1,500m final: 1 V Malakwen (Ken) 3:40.11; 2 R Chesang (Ken) 3:40.66; 3 J Achon (Uga) 3:40.83.WOMEN (Bulawayo): Hockey: Nigeria 1 Namibia 1; Ghana 0 Zimbabwe 3; South Africa 2 Kenya 1.

South Africa were stripped of a gold medal on Monday, because their Bulgarian- born hammer thrower, Rumen Koprivchin, had not complied with the Games's nationality regulations. MEN (Harare): Pole vault final: 1 O Brits (SA) 5.50 ; 2 K Gardenne (Mauritania) 5.20; 3 S Farid (Eg) 4.80. Chido Mombeshora, 10, became the youngest medallist at the Games when she came third in the rhythmic gymnastics. Substitutes not used: Partridge, Paterson (gk)Newcastle United (4-4-2): Hislop (Srnicek, 64); Barton (Hottiger, 64), Peacock, Howey, Elliott; Gillespie (Watson, 64), Lee, Sellars, Ginola; Ferdinand, Fox.Referee: K Burge (Tonypandy).. However, it was inevitable that Newcastle would score again, Robert Lee rounding off another magical move.Bristol City (4-4-2): Kite; Hansen, Bryant, Dryden, Edwards; Bent, Plummer (Hewlett, 81) Kuhl, Munro; Seal, Agostino. The ball flowed down the left from Sellars to Ruel Fox, who found Gillespie advancing from the right and he drilled his shot home.City made a belated fist of it. The inevitable third came via a Les Ferdinand tap-in as the Bristol defence threatened to be split asunder.If the the Magpies tended to drift towards half-time, they were rampant immediately afterwards.