The draw was made live on BBC Scotland immediately after Saints secured the final place in the last four with a 1-0 win away to Livingston.

St Johnstone had already gone further than they had since lifting the trophy for a second time in 2021 and Valakari’s side secured their place in an all-Premiership last four thanks to a superb 30-yard second-half strike from substitute Graham Carey.

“We get the toughest opponent of all, but we will go and enjoy it,” the Finn said.

“We can dare to dream, it’s all about the cup – dreaming.”

The semi-finals will be played at Hampden Park on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 April.

Saints will face a Celtic side who not only have a commanding lead at the top of the Premiership but defeated Hibernian 2-1 on Sunday to stay on course for lifting the trophy for a third successive year and the 43rd time in their history.

The Perth side sit bottom of the top flight and have lost their latest four meetings with Celtic – losing 6-0 at home and 4-0 in Glasgow in the league already this season.

However, experienced left-back Barry Douglas has already given his team-mates a pep talk about the possibility of lifting the trophy for a third time in 11 years.

“As Barry Douglas said to our players after the game, you can play a long career and never play a semi-final at the national stadium – so it’s a beautiful day,” Valakari added.

“It’s in the history of our club and everyone knows it and we want to write our name into history now. We will enjoy this and now we’re back to the Premiership.”

In the other semi-final, eight-time winners Hearts will be hoping to reach the final for the first time since they lost in 2022 and go one stage further than last season, when they were beaten by Rangers in the last four.

Likewise, Aberdeen lost in the semi-finals last season to Celtic on penalties after a 3-3 draw.

The Dons have lifted the trophy seven times but not since 1990, while Hearts last won it in 2012.

Aberdeen beat the Edinburgh visitors 3-2 in August, since when two more league meetings have finished all square.

Heart of Midlothian v Aberdeen

St Johnstone v Celtic

Ties to be played on weekend 19-20 April.