Hearts and Hibs could meet in cup group stage

Hearts and Hibs could face each other in the group phase of this year’s Betfred League Cup.

The Edinburgh rivals are both in the northern region for tomorrow’s draw, with Hearts a first seed and Hibs a second seed.

The draw comprises 40 clubs: the 38 SPFL clubs not participating in European competitions plus Lowland League champions East Kilbride and Buckie Thistle, the Highland League title winners.

The group phase, which starts on 15 July, involves eight sections of five teams playing on a regionalised basis – four “north” groups and four “south” groups. Each of the eight groups will contain a club seeded first, one seeded second, plus three unseeded teams.

Hibs’ promotion from the Championship guarantees a return of the Edinburgh derby to the Ladbrokes Premiership fixture list, but the two capital neighbours will meet before a league ball is kicked if the draw puts them in the same section.

Hearts intend to play their home Betfred Cup games at Tynecastle in front of three stands whilst they rebuild the ground’s main stand.

The format, announced in advance of the 2016 Betfred Cup, sees all drawn group stage matches go straight to a penalty shoot-out with the winners earning an extra “bonus point” in addition to the traditional point given for a draw. The eight group winners and four best runners-up progress to the last 16 where they are joined by holders Celtic and fellow European representatives Aberdeen, Rangers and St Johnstone.