Holders Enter Fray & Ibrox Debutants - Things To Watch In Premier Sports Cup

Knockout shot veers into position this play pinch nan 2nd information of nan Premier Sports Cup.

Celtic big promoted Falkirk, while third-tier Alloa Athletic's reward for topping their group is simply a sojourn to Ibrox to return connected Russell Martin's stumbling Rangers.

Ayr United sojourn Championship rivals Partick Thistle, Aberdeen are distant to different Championship broadside successful Greenock Morton, pinch relegated St Johnstone big top-flight Motherwell.

Off nan backmost of Thursday's European action, Dundee United and Hibernian sojourn Premiership guidance successful nan style of Kilmarnock and promoted Livingston, respectively.

Here's what to look retired for crossed nan 8 matches...

The past clip Falkirk went to Celtic Park, nan then-Championship broadside flew retired of nan blocks and went astatine Celtic.

Goals from Ross MacIver and Finn Yeats had John McGlynn's broadside 2-1 up astatine half-time, earlier a double apiece for Adam Idah and Nicolas Kuhn ensured Celtic avoided an upset.

Still, it was notable really McGlynn's front-foot play was capable to origin problems against Scotland's ascendant nine side.

After a straightforward group-stage campaign, it has been a much difficult return to nan apical formation for nan Bairns, who drew against Dundee United earlier falling to a 3-1 conclusion astatine bogey squad Livingston.

Will those setbacks lead to tweaks from McGlynn aliases will he instrumentality to his attack and return nan crippled to a Celtic broadside who mightiness person 1 oculus connected Wednesday's Champions League play-off location limb against Kairat Almaty?

"For us, a reference was really good we did location past season," McGlynn said. "We've sewage to return a spot of assurance and belief from that.

"We're ever going to create chances pinch nan type of squad we are. We want to travel retired of Celtic Park pinch our heads held precocious and who knows? Maybe successful nan quarter-finals."

Derek McInnes made it clear successful his pre-match news convention connected Wednesday that he is targeting silverware successful his first play pinch Hearts, who haven't won this title since 1963.

Hearts don't person nan champion grounds successful Paisley but tin return bosom from a gritty Scottish Cup triumph connected penalties location past season. They besides spell into nan lucifer disconnected six consecutive wins, having beaten 2 of past season's top-six Premiership teams already.

They person an opportunity to return a 3rd scalp against St Mirren and McInnes was bullish erstwhile asked astir his team's prospects successful nan cup competitions.

"I've said this to them a fewer times. There's not 1 subordinate should person signed for Hearts without having that aspiration to triumph a trophy here," nan erstwhile Kilmarnock and Aberdeen leader said.

"If we don't triumph nan cup, it doesn't mean we were incorrect to opportunity it. I don't deliberation you're mounting yourself up for a fall. We do judge we're bully capable to spell nan afloat measurement and there's nary constituent believing otherwise."

The caput coach has talked nan talk. His squad now request to locomotion nan walk.

Ridiculous magnitude of shots faced crossed games this season.

Slow, ponderous build-up play, peculiarly against teams favouring a debased block.

One imagines that will beryllium Alloa Athletic's gameplan astatine Ibrox connected Saturday.

However, Martin said earlier Tuesday's conclusion by Viktoria Plzen that summertime signings Thelo Aasgaard and Mikey Moore could some beryllium fresh to make debuts this weekend.

Will Russell Martin make sweeping changes and assistance opportunities to fringe members of his squad aliases will he look to build knowing and favour continuity?

Both Dundee United and Hibernian were successful Conference League qualifying action connected Thursday evening, but pinch mixed fortunes.

While Hibs progressed to nan play-off information pinch a 4-3 aggregate triumph against Partizan aft other time, United endured nan agony of conclusion connected penalties aft being tied 4-4 pinch Rapid Vienna pursuing 210 minutes of football.

The packed schedule that accompanies European shot is simply a important situation for teams arsenic they effort to support home shape while attempting to unafraid a group-stage spot and nan riches that brings.

United person taken 1 constituent from nan 2 convention matches that person instantly followed their European efforts this season, while Hibs person had much joyousness having claimed 4 points.

With some facing top-flight guidance connected nan roadworthy this weekend, their squad extent will beryllium tested again.

Tyrone Smith, BBC Sport Scotland

Having completed his multi-million lb move from Motherwell to Udinese, nan spotlight won't autumn connected Lennon Miller, erstwhile his erstwhile nine recreation to St Johnstone connected Saturday.

So possibly it will autumn connected different talented youngster - 21-year-old Saints striker Makenzie Kirk.

The Perth broadside whitethorn person been relegated from nan Premiership past season, but Kirk caught nan eye, netting 11 times.

St Johnstone leader Simo Valakari has confirmed location has, unsurprisingly, been transportation liking successful nan Northern Irish striker.

He added: "These players are very uncommon and to person a subordinate astatine his property who still has a batch of imaginable to fulfil - of people location will beryllium interest.

"He is our player, we don't person nan urgency aliases panic to sell. I would beryllium much than happy if he is our subordinate erstwhile this model closes."

Despite being successful and retired of nan Saints starting XI this season, he has still scored 4 goals.

"He has been apical notch, pushing very difficult each time - that tells maine he is young successful property but mature successful his head," Valakari said.

Both Kirk and his Finnish head will dream that difficult activity pays disconnected arsenic nan Perth broadside activity a quarter-final spot.