BY IAIN COLLIN – @CCP_sport
UP to a dozen players will walk a dreaded suspension tightrope in this weekend’s Scottish Cup semi-finals.
Each of the four clubs will have players running out at Hampden knowing they will miss the final should they pick up another booking in a victory.
Celtic are the best placed, with just defender Erik Sviatchenko – if he wins his fitness battle – set to play with a possible ban hanging over him.
Opponents Rangers, on the other hand, have a quartet who will approach the eagerly-awaited Old Firm tussle concerned of falling foul of referee Craig Thomson.
Jason Holt, Dominic Ball, Nicky Clark and Harry Forrester will all risk a suspension in the heat of the clash with Celtic.
In the other semi-final, John Rankin, Henri Anier and Paul Paton, who could be ruled out with a knee injury, are all one caution away from missing out for Dundee United, who already have Mark Durnan banned for their encounter with Hibernian.
Meanwhile, Hibs, who will be without the suspended Mark Oxley and James Keatings against United, have Darren McGregor, Anthony Stokes, Kevin Thomson and David Gray on the brink of a nightmare ban.
