Derek McInnes' Hearts bow vs Neil Lennon gets TV billing as Premier Sports Cup fixtures and TV picks revealed
Derek McInnes will make his Hearts dugout bow in front of the TV cameras as the SPFL confirmed the Premier Sports Cup group stage fixture list.
The Jambos have been selected for live coverage TWICE from five games picked up by the broadcaster for the first phase of the competition.
The capital club kick off their campaign at Tynecastle at home to Neil Lennon 's Dunfermline on Saturday, July 12 with the game getting underway at 5.15pm.
Hearts' trip to Stirling Albion the following weekend, starting at the same time will also be live on the box as is Kilmarnock vs Livingston in an all Premiership affiar, Motherwell vs Greenock Morton and Ayr United's trip to St Mirren.
As like last season, a number of other matches will be able to be viewed on the Premier Sports app so fixturs NOT selected for TV remain subject to change.
The eight group winners and three best runners-up will join Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hibs and Dundee United - who all get a bye due to their European involvement - in the last 16.
SPFL chief operating officer Calum Beattie: 'We are delighted to be able to announce the fixtures and TV selections for the group stage of the Premier Sports Cup as we look forward to the start of the new season kicking off in July.
'In addition to the five matches selected for live coverage on Premier Sports, supporters will also have the opportunity to watch additional games via the Premier Sports app and we hope to be in a position to confirm those selections shortly.'
GROUP A
Saturday July 12 Brechin City v Falkirk (3.00pm) The Spartans v Queen's Park (3.00pm)
Tuesday July 15 Cove Rangers v The Spartans (7.45pm) Queen's Park v Brechin City (7.45pm)
Saturday July 19 Cove Rangers v Falkirk (3.00pm) The Spartans v Brechin City (3.00pm)
Tuesday July 22 Brechin City v Cove Rangers (7.45pm) Falkirk v Queen's Park (7.45pm)
Saturday July 26 Falkirk v The Spartans (3.00pm) Queen's Park v Cove Rangers (3.00pm)
GROUP B
Saturday July 12 Edinburgh City v Partick Thistle (3.00pm) Stranraer v Ross County (3.00pm)
Tuesday July 15 Partick Thistle v Stranraer (7.45pm) Queen of the South v Edinburgh City (7.45pm)
Saturday July 19 Edinburgh City v Stranraer (3.00pm) Queen of the South v Ross County (3.00pm)
Tuesday July 22 Partick Thistle v Queen of the South (7.45pm) Ross County v Edinburgh City (7.45pm)
Saturday July 26 Ross County v Partick Thistle (3.00pm) Stranraer v Queen of the South (3.00pm)
GROUP C
Saturday July 12 Bonnyrigg Rose v Alloa Athletic (3.00pm) Dundee v Airdrieonians (3.00pm)
Tuesday July 15 Airdrieonians v Bonnyrigg Rose (7.45pm) Alloa Athletic v Montrose (7.45pm)
Saturday July 19 Alloa Athletic v Dundee (3.00pm) Montrose v Bonnyrigg Rose (3.00pm)
Tuesday July 22 Bonnyrigg Rose v Dundee (7.45pm) Montrose v Airdrieonians (7.45pm)
Saturday July 26 Airdrieonians v Alloa Athletic (3.00pm) Dundee v Montrose (3.00pm)
GROUP D
Saturday July 12 Annan Athletic v Forfar Athletic (3.00pm) Arbroath v St Mirren (3.00pm)
Tuesday July 15 Annan Athletic v Ayr United (7.45pm) Forfar Athletic v St Mirren (7.45pm)
Saturday July 19 Ayr United v Arbroath (3.00pm) St Mirren v Annan Athletic (3.00pm)
Tuesday July 22 Arbroath v Annan Athletic (7.45pm) Ayr United v Forfar Athletic (7.45pm)
Saturday July 26 Forfar Athletic v Arbroath (3.00pm)
Sunday July 27 St Mirren v Ayr United (Premier Sports, 3.00pm)
GROUP E
Saturday July 12 Heart of Midlothian v Dunfermline Athletic (Premier Sports, 5.15pm) Stirling Albion v Hamilton Academical (3.00pm)
Tuesday July 15 Dumbarton v Stirling Albion (7.45pm) Hamilton Academical v Heart of Midlothian (7.45pm)
Saturday July 19 Dumbarton v Dunfermline Athletic (3.00pm) Stirling Albion v Heart of Midlothian (Premier Sports, 5.15pm)
Tuesday July 22 Dunfermline Athletic v Hamilton Academical (7.45pm)
Wednesday July 23 Heart of Midlothian v Dumbarton (7.45pm)
Saturday July 26 Dunfermline Athletic v Stirling Albion (3.00pm) Hamilton Academical v Dumbarton (3.00pm)
GROUP F
Saturday July 12 East Kilbride v St Johnstone (3.00pm) Elgin City v Raith Rovers (3.00pm)
Tuesday July 15 Inverness CT v Elgin City (7.45pm) Raith Rovers v East Kilbride (7.45pm)
Saturday July 19 Elgin City v East Kilbride (3.00pm) Inverness CT v St Johnstone (3.00pm)
Tuesday July 22 East Kilbride v Inverness CT (7.45pm) St Johnstone v Raith Rovers (7.45pm)
Saturday July 26 Raith Rovers v Inverness CT (3.00pm) St Johnstone v Elgin City (3.00pm)
GROUP G
Saturday July 12 Clyde v Motherwell (3.00pm) Peterhead v Greenock Morton (3.00pm)
Tuesday July 15 Greenock Morton v Stenhousemuir (7.45pm) Motherwell v Peterhead (7.45pm)
Saturday July 19 Peterhead v Clyde (3.00pm) Stenhousemuir v Motherwell (3.00pm)
Tuesday July 22 Clyde v Stenhousemuir (7.45pm) Motherwell v Greenock Morton (Premier Sports, 7.45pm)
Saturday July 26 Greenock Morton v Clyde (3.00pm) Stenhousemuir v Peterhead (3.00pm)
GROUP H
Saturday July 12 Brora Rangers v Kilmarnock (3.00pm) East Fife v Livingston (3.00pm)
Tuesday July 15 Brora Rangers v Kelty Hearts (7.45pm)
Saturday July 19 Kelty Hearts v East Fife (3.00pm) Livingston v Brora Rangers (3.00pm)
Saturday July 26 Kilmarnock v East Fife (3.00pm) Livingston v Kelty Hearts (3.00pm)
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