Queen’s Park were the story of the previous round, knocking out Rangers at Ibrox and contributing to the eventual demise of Ibrox manager Philippe Clement.
It is not only that historic result – the first side outside the top tier to have beaten Rangers in the cup on their own patch – that ensures there will be no element of surprise this time.
The Spiders have visited Pittodrie once before this season, when top-flight Aberdeen had to wait until stoppage time before Topi Keskinen’s solitary goal secured progress in August to the League Cup quarter-finals.
Including Ibrox, Callum Davidson’s side are three unbeaten on the road, all without conceding, but will need to recover from Tuesday’s 3-2 home defeat by Ayr United that leaves them down in sixth place in the Championship.
Jimmy Thelin’s hosts have themselves dropped to fourth in the top flight after a 5-1 thumping at Celtic Park and Sunday’s 2-2 draw at home to Dundee United.
However, the Dons’ recent inconsistency is at least an improvement on their previous dismal run of one win in 15, they have now only lost once in five outings and they are unbeaten in their latest three at home.
Which all points against Queen’s Park causing another major shock in front of a live television audience on BBC One Scotland and BBC iPlayer. Then again, that 2023 humiliation by sixth-tier Darvel is still fresh in Aberdeen’s memory.
Aberdeen lost in the cup semi-finals on penalties to eventual winners Celtic last season.
Queen’s Park last reached the Scottish Cup semi-finals in the 1927–28 season, when they lost to Celtic.
The Spiders last reached the quarter-finals in the 1981–82 season, losing 2-1 at home to Forfar Athletic.
Queen’s Park have not beaten Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup since their first-ever meeting in November 1889 – when the Glasgow side won 13-1 away from home.
However, Queen’s Park did beat the Dons on penalties in the League Cup in 2006 after 0-0 draw.
Aberdeen lifted the cup for a seventh time in 2014.
Queen’s Park won cup for their 10th and final time in 1893.
