Knockout places up for grabs

The Betfred Cup group stage completes this weekend with 12 teams progressing to round two.

The four best group winners will join Celtic, Rangers, Motherwell and Aberdeen as the seeded teams in Sunday’s draw.

The eight group winners all qualify along with the four runners- up with the best records. Courier Sport takes a look at how the land lies in sections involving Fife and Tayside clubs:

GROUP A

Hearts have qualified as one of the seeded teams after completing their games with 12 points. Raith will have eight points if they win at Cowdenbeath, but will need goals to progress. They have a negative goal difference and will need a five-goal win to beat Dundee United’s record, for instance, which may still not be enough.

GROUP B

Dundee and Hibs are both on nine points ahead of S u n d a y ’s meeting at Easter Road.

Whoever wins will qualify, but the other team stand a good chance of joining them, especially if the game ends in a draw.

GROUP C

Pe t e r h e a d and St Johnstone’s clash at Balmoor will decide the group. Only a Saints win would allow Dundee Un i t e d to clinch second spot, but their eight-point tally, with a goal difference of four, is unlikely to carry them through.

GROUP D

Ross County will win the group if they beat Stirling at home, but would need other results to go their way to finish as one of the four best winners. Arbroath and Elgin meet at Gayfield and a win for either will stand them in good stead.

GROUP E

Dunfermline only need a point when they host Clyde at East End Park to overtake leaders Falkirk. The Pars may still make it through as one of the best-placed runners-up even with a surprise defeat.