MARTIN Canning has urged Hamilton to grasp their William Hill Scottish Cup opportunity against Rangers and not miss the chance of a lifetime like he did.

The Accies boss was part of the Gretna side who made it all the way to Hampden in 2006, but he was cup tied and missed the Borders outfit's big day, which ended with a penalty shoot-out defeat to Hearts.

It took penalties for Hamilton to see off Dunfermline at the second attempt on Tuesday night as they set up a last-eight clash with Rangers.

And Canning urged his team to use his sob story for next month's Ibrox tie.

He said: "I was at Gretna I missed out on the actual game at Hampden. I went through all the emotions of the final without getting to play, which is probably more difficult.

"I've told the players to grasp this opportunity because the quarter-finals was the furthest I got.

"When you play in Scotland, the cups are one of the main things you chase because the league is so hard to win unless you're playing for Celtic or Rangers.

"So a cup run is the opportunity for every player to get their hands on some silverware."

Against Dunfermline, Accies goalkeeper Remi Matthews certainly grasped his opportunity to stake a claim for a regular first-team place with his heroics, saving three penalties in the shoot-out.

"Gary Woods has done well when he’s played, and I’ve come back to fight for the number 1 spot. I can only do what I can in the games I get the opportunity," Matthews said.

"The gaffer’s given me the chance in the last two cup games and I think I can say I’ve repaid his faith.

"We move on to Saturday, and with the decision he makes I’m professional enough to get on and work hard either way. We’ve just got to focus on this massive game on Saturday [against Partick] as a team now.”

He revealed that he had not been over confident when the game ended in a stalemate, requiring spot-kicks to decide who would book a date against Rangers.

“I’ve had a few shoot-outs and not saved many, and that was always at the back of my head.

"It was just nice to help get the lads through in the end. I have a look at the player. I banked on the first taker going right and he did. It’s a hit and miss, you guess the right way and you hopefully save it.”

As for his chances of facing Rangers in the next round Matthews is taking nothing for granted.

“We’ll see what happens. Anything can happen in football.

"I nearly knocked myself out on the post during the game so could have been home by half nine.”