THE fixtures and television selections for the 2017/18 Betfred Cup group stage have been announced, featuring a Dundee derby and a repeat of the 2015/16 final.

Dens Park will host the battle between the Dundee and Dundee United on Sunday 30 July, live on BT Sport. 

Other TV highlights include a clash between Ross County and Hibs, the finalists from two seasons ago, in Dingwall on Friday 21 July and a derby between Ayr United and Kilmarnock on Friday 14 July.

BT Sport will also air Hearts' meeting with Dunfermline at Tynecastle on Saturday 29 July, Motherwell's trip to Queen's Park on 15 July and Partick Thistle v St Mirren on 22 July.

All matches that finish in a draw will go straight to a penalty shoot-out, with the winner being awarded an extra bonus point. 

The eight group winners and four best runners-up will progress into the first knockout round, where they will be joined by European entrants Celtic, Aberdeen, Rangers and St Johnstone.

Group A

Saturday 15 July
Falkirk v Stirling Albion, kick-off 3.00pm
Inverness Caley Thistle v Brechin City, kick-off 3.00pm

Tuesday 18 July
Brechin City v Forfar Athletic, kick-off 7.45pm
Stirling Albion v Inverness Caley Thistle, kick-off 7.45pm

Saturday 22 July
Forfar Athletic v Stirling Albion, kick-off 3.00pm
Inverness Caley Thistle v Falkirk, kick-off 3.00pm

Tuesday 25 July
Falkirk v Forfar Athletic, kick-off 7.45pm
Stirling Albion v Brechin City, kick-off 7.45pm

Saturday 29 July
Brechin City v Falkirk, kick-off 3.00pm
Forfar Athletic v Inverness Caley Thistle, kick-off 3.00pm

Group B

Saturday 15 July
Dunfermline Athletic v Elgin City, kick-off 3.00pm
Peterhead v East Fife, kick-off 3.00pm

Tuesday 18 July
East Fife v Dunfermline Athletic, kick-off 7.45pm
Elgin City v Heart of Midlothian, kick-off 7.45pm

Saturday 22 July
Dunfermline Athletic v Peterhead, kick-off 3.00pm
Heart of Midlothian v East Fife, kick-off 3.00pm

Tuesday 25 July
East Fife v Elgin City, kick-off 7.45pm
Peterhead v Heart of Midlothian, kick-off 8.00pm

Saturday 29 July
Elgin City v Peterhead, 3.00pm
Heart of Midlothian v Dunfermline Athletic, kick-off 3.00pm (Live on BT Sport)

Group C

Saturday 15 July
Cowdenbeath v Buckie Thistle, kick-off 3.00pm
Dundee United v Raith Rovers, kick-off 3.00pm

Tuesday 18 July
Buckie Thistle v Dundee United, kick-off 8.00pm
Raith Rovers v Dundee, kick-off 7.45pm

Saturday 22 July
Dundee v Buckie Thistle, kick-off 3.00pm

Sunday 23 July
Dundee United v Cowdenbeath, kick-off 3.00pm

Tuesday 25 July
Buckie Thistle v Raith Rovers, kick-off 8.00pm

Wednesday 26 July
Cowdenbeath v Dundee, kick-off 7.45pm

Saturday 29 July
Raith Rovers v Cowdenbeath, kick-off 3.00pm

Sunday 30 July
Dundee v Dundee United, kick-off 3.00pm (Live on BT Sport)

Group D

Saturday 15 July
Hibernian v Montrose, kick-off 3.00pm
Ross County v Alloa Athletic, kick-off 3.00pm

Tuesday 18 July
Alloa Athletic v Arbroath, kick-off 7.45pm
Montrose v Ross County, kick-off 7.45pm

Friday 21 July
Ross County v Hibernian, kick-off 7.45pm (Live on BT Sport)

Saturday 22 July
Arbroath v Montrose, kick-off 3.00pm

Tuesday 25 July
Hibernian v Arbroath, kick-off 7.45pm
Montrose v Alloa Athletic, kick-off 7.45pm

Saturday 29 July
Alloa Athletic v Hibernian, kick-off 3.00pm
Arbroath v Ross County, kick-off 3.00pm

Group E

Friday 14 July
Ayr United v Kilmarnock, kick-off 7.45pm (Live on BT Sport)

Saturday 15 July
Clyde v Annan Athletic, kick-off 3.00pm

Tuesday 18 July
Dumbarton v Ayr United, kick-off 7.45pm
Kilmarnock v Clyde, kick-off 7.45pm

Saturday 22 July
Annan Athletic v Kilmarnock, kick-off 3.00pm
Clyde v Dumbarton, kick-off 3.00pm

Tuesday 25 July
Ayr United v Clyde, kick-off 7.45pm
Dumbarton v Annan Athletic, kick-off 7.45pm

Saturday 29 July
Annan Athletic v Ayr United, kick-off 3.00pm
Kilmarnock v Dumbarton, kick-off 3.00pm

Group F

Saturday 15 July
Berwick Rangers v Morton, kick-off 3.00pm
Queen's Park v Motherwell, kick-off 3.00pm (Live on BT Sport)

Tuesday 18 July
Edinburgh City v Berwick Rangers, kick-off 7.45pm
Morton v Queen's Park, kick-off 7.45pm

Saturday 22 July
Motherwell v Morton, kick-off 3.00pm
Queen's Park v Edinburgh City, kick-off 3.00pm

Tuesday 25 July
Berwick Rangers v Queen's Park, kick-off 7.45pm
Edinburgh City v Motherwell, kick-off 7.45pm

Saturday 29 July
Morton v Edinburgh City, kick-off 3.00pm
Motherwell v Berwick Rangers, kick-off 3.00pm

Group G

Saturday 15 July
East Kilbride v Hamilton Academical, kick-off 3.00pm
Stenhousemuir v Queen of the South, kick-off 3.00pm

Tuesday 18 July
Albion Rovers v Stenhousemuir, kick-off 7.45pm
Queen of the South v East Kilbride, kick-off 7.45pm

Saturday 22 July
East Kilbride v Albion Rovers, kick-off 3.00pm
Hamilton Academical v Queen of the South, kick-off 3.00pm

Tuesday 25 July
Albion Rovers v  Hamilton Academical, kick-off 7.45pm
Stenhousemuir v East Kilbride, kick-off 7.30pm

Saturday 29 July
Hamilton Academical v Stenhousemuir, kick-off 3.00pm
Queen of the South v Albion Rovers, kick-off 3.00pm

Group H

Saturday 15 July
Livingston v Partick Thistle, kick-off 3.00pm
Stranraer v St Mirren, kick-off 3.00pm

Tuesday 18 July
Airdrieonians v Stranraer, kick-off 7.45pm
St Mirren v Livingston, kick-off 7.45pm

Saturday 22 July
Livingston v Airdrieonians, kick-off 3.00pm
Partick Thistle v St Mirren, kick-off 3.00pm (Live on BT Sport)

Tuesday 25 July
Airdrieonians v Partick Thistle, kick-off 7.45pm
Stranraer v Livingston, kick-off 7.45pm

Saturday 29 July
Partick Thistle v Stranraer, kick-off 3.00pm
St Mirren v Airdrieonians, kick-off 3.00pm                                                 
Dates for ties                  

Second round - Tuesday/Wednesday 8/9 August                                   

Quarter-finals - Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday 19/20/21 September  

Semi-finals - Saturday/Sunday 21/22 October

Final - Sunday 26 November