Two former winners of the Challenge Cup lead their teams tonight as the competition, under the new guise of the Petrofac Training Cup, opens the Scottish domestic season with a meeting between Queen’s Park and Berwick Rangers at Airdrie.
Spiders head coach Gus MacPherson led St Mirren to success back in 2005 while Borderers player/boss Colin Cameron was a substitute when Dundee defeated Inverness Caledonian Thistle to lift the silverware four years later.
MacPherson has been the busier of the two over the summer, bringing in 12 new players, and he is keen to see how his re-built side get on in their first outing.
He said: “It became pretty clear to me that there required to be a significant chance to our squad shortly after I took the job. That work began in March as we started to scout players and, whilst we have 12 in just now, there is hopefully more to come.
“Berwick have had a more settled summer and did well to hold on to Lee Currie and Darren Lavery. However, our intention is to be a much more competitive side and tonight will show us how close we are to reaching that goal.”
Shaun Rooney will miss out with a knee injury, with new recruit Ross Gallacher expected to overcome an ankle injury to feature.
Berwick will be without Currie, who spent part of his summer on trial at Hearts, as well as Ross Gray, who has a knee injury, and Ben Miller who is on holiday.
Cameron includes new recruits Scott Maxwell, David Gold and Paul Willis and the 41-year-old Shielfield gaffer will play if he shakes off a pelvic injury.
Cameron’s side won 3-1 on the penultimate day of last season at Queen’s Park's temporary home but he added: "Queen's Park have rebuilt over the summer.
"They have brought in a lot of players from junior and amateur sides who will feel they have a point to prove. That will make them very dangerous opponents.”
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