The Birmingham City boss faces Billy Davies's Nottingham Forest in the famous old competition, having managed his fellow Scot at Motherwell.
"I tipped Billy's team at the start of the season to be a contender for promotion because I know the way he builds his teams and wants them to play and he has got a mobile team," said the St Andrew's supremo.
"I have watched the last few games and Billy has built a cracking little team.
McLeish himself however is not doing too badly in the West Midlands having guided Blues, promoted from the Championship last season, on an 11-game unbeaten run in the top-flight.