No Betfred Cup Edinburgh derby as Hearts and Hibs seeded for draw - and Edinburgh City in different section

There will be no Betfred Cup Edinburgh derby with both Hearts and Hibs seeded for this afternoon’s group stage draw.

Despite the Tynecastle side’s relegation they keep their first seed status in the ‘northern’ section of the competition.

However, neither side will be drawn against Edinburgh City who are in the ‘southern section’.

Robbie Neilson’s men will go into the hat alongside St Johnstone, Ross County and Scottish Premiership league leaders Hibs as top seeds.

The Capital duo, however, will be drawn against one of Dundee United, who Hibs face on Tuesday evening, or Championship trio Inverness CT, Arbroath or Dundee – all four are second seeds.

That means there is a distinct possibility that Hearts could be drawn against Dundee and potentially meet before their Championship opener on 17 October.

To make up the group, Hearts and Hibs will face a further three from the 12 unseeded sides: Raith Rovers, Montrose, East Fife, Peterhead, Forfar Athletic, Cove Rangers, Elgin City, Cowdenbeath, Stirling Albion, Brechin, as well as Highland and Lowland League champions Brora Rangers and Kelty Hearts.

For Edinburgh City they will definitely face one of Livingston, Kilmarnock, St Mirren or Hamilton Academical from the top seeds, and either Ayr United, Dunfermline Athletic, Greenock Morton and Alloa Athletic from the second seeds.

They will be joined in their group by two of: Queen of the South, Partick Thistle, Falkirk, Airdrieonians, Dumbarton, Clyde, Stranraer, Queen’s Park, Annan Athletic, Stenhousemuir, Albion Rovers.

The draw takes place at 1pm on the SPFL’s YouTube channel and Free Sports TV.

The Betfred Cup, which had been scheduled to start in July before being pushed back due to the coronavirus pandemic, begins on Tuesday, 6 October with the group stage finishing on Saturday, 14 November before Scotland's European representatives – Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen and Motherwell – join the knockout stages.