Celtic will be looking to make it a double against Kilmarnock after the first of two encounters this week ended in a 2-0 victory for the Hoops.
A battling first half saw both sides see flashes of goal in a widely uninspiring display from both Ange Postecoglou and Derek McInnes' sides before returning Jota was the man on the spot to convert some nice play from Daizen Maeda just on the stroke of half time in a crucial moment at Parkhead.
The second half brought more security for the league leaders when Kyogo got in on the act to make things comfortable just five minutes after the restart, with the Japanese being officially denied the credit for an Ash Taylor own goal.
Jota juxtaposition pays off
Jota was back in the Celtic starting eleven and seemed to be deployed on his unfavoured right-hand side with Daizen Maeda given the role off the left.
Maeda's electric form perhaps made his unseating a no-go for Postecoglou, but the Portuguese often found himself conversely cutting in with his left foot rather than his favoured right. That meant the tricky winger's mandate was to send effective deliveries in to the area for Kyogo and co early on but to no avail.
As the game progressed, Jota found his opening from the right as he responded to a well-timed Maeda cross to slot home which will give the winger huge confidence.
Bernabei bypassed?
Greg Taylor's injury will birth a huge opportunity for Alexandro Bernabei in a Celtic shirt over the next few weeks.
And the Argentine hasn't had a glowing start to life in Glasgow but has popped up with a few moments off the bench since his arrival in the summer and the 22-year-old was given the nod against Killie in a first half with ups and downs.
Bernabei's excitement cannot be understated and the youngster moves and operates well on the wing, but his final ball decision making hasn't looked up to Postecoglou's scratch as of yet. The performance on Saturday may not go much further in pushing the argument for the kid to start regularly, but a solid deputy and squad player he seems to be able to become.
Semi-final set-up
It's a strange notion that two teams should meet in the space of a week but Saturday's clash will be followed up by a big semi-final next week.
And while Killie would have looked to pen in at Parkhead, one would imagine the Ayrshire side will go to Hampden with a more positive outlook. Yet the wide open spaces of the national stadium have suited Postecoglou's Celtic side in recent times.
One thing is guaranteed - goals.
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