It is mid-September, so it must be Scottish League Cup quarter-final time, but if you are looking for shocks, you might be disappointed this time.
The draw for what is currently called the Premier Sports Cup was kind on the Premiership’s three form teams – handing Aberdeen, Celtic and Rangers home ties – and harsh on lower league survivors Falkirk and Spartans.
Here are some of the things to look out for in four ties spread over three days.
Huge sighs of relief will ring round Ibrox on Saturday as League Cup holders Rangers return from their temporary Hampden home in the second of two all-Premiership ties following Friday’s meeting of Motherwell and Dundee United.
The Copland Stand will not be full as delayed renovation work continues, but the switch from the other side of Glasgow will be a welcome boost not only financially but also in terms of atmosphere.
Dundee’s chances of a cup shock would also be greater if their nine-game unbeaten start to the season had not been ended last weekend as Rangers got back to winning ways after their own Old Firm reality check.
The Dark Blues’ 2-0 defeat by Ross County in Dingwall means they have now gone three games without a victory, while the Light Blues recovered from their derby loss to Celtic by beating Dundee United 1-0 to secure their first away win.
It kept Rangers five points behind early Premiership leaders Celtic and Aberdeen and, just as importantly, eased some of the tension around the club after John Bennett’s announcement that he was standing down as chairman citing health problems exacerbated by fan criticism.
Even playing at Hampden, Philippe Clement’s side have won all three of their domestic home games, their only reverse coming against Dynamo Kyiv in Champions League qualifying.
History is also heavily on their side, with Dundee having to go back to October 1951 for a League Cup win over Rangers – 3-2 in the final.
A Steven Davis goal was enough for the Glasgow side to win their last League Cup meeting two years ago at Ibrox.
And, overall, Rangers are 13 unbeaten against Dundee since losing at Dens Park in November 2017 and have won 17 in a row at Ibrox since goals from Claudio Caniggia and Steven Milne secured the Dark Blues their last win there in March 2001.
However, Tony Docherty’s current side have shown they can give Rangers a bit of a fright, following up April’s goalless draw at Dens Park a month later by leading twice at Ibrox before losing 5-2.
The visitors will be hoping Clement and his players this time have one eye on Thursday’s Europa League visit to Malmo.
There were high hopes for Dylan Tait when Hibs bought the midfielder, then aged 19, before loaning him back to Raith Rovers in August 2021.
But he would only make one appearance for the Premiership club and, after further loans to Kilmarnock, Arbroath, Hamilton Academical and Falkirk, he joined the latter on a permanent transfer this summer after helping them win League 1 and promotion.
Tait’s top-flight dream having been dashed for now, he has eked out revenge on two Premiership sides already this season.
He scored in 2-0 group-stage defeat of Dundee United and again as Falkirk knocked out Heart of Midlothian in the last 16.
His four goals in 11 games this term are already one more than he has achieved in any full season and a repeat performance on Sunday would raise his profile further.
However, the chances of a third Premiership scalp in a row are reduced by being drawn away to Scottish champions who lead the top-flight again after five straight wins and who are fresh from thrashing Slovan Bratislava 5-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Indeed, Falkirk have not beaten Celtic in 12 meetings since a 1-0 home league win in 2007, losing their latest League Cup meeting 3-1 in the 2012 semi-final then 3-0 in the Scottish Cup third round three years ago.
However, the Bairns won – on penalties after a 1-1 draw – the last time the sides met at this stage in the League Cup, in November 2006.
Apart from losing a penalty shootout derby away to Stenhousemuir in the SPFL Trust Trophy, Tait and Falkirk have won eight of their past nine outings, lead the Championship and will travel to Glasgow determined for a repeat – and to prove their Premiership credentials.
It would be one of the biggest shocks in Scottish League Cup history if Aberdeen were not to extend their 10-game winning run since Jimmy Thelin took charge at the start of the season.
People will point to the very same Dons’ dismal Scottish Cup exit at the hands of Darvel – a side from Scotland sixth tier – in early 2023.
And, yes, Spartans are two tiers higher and have already accounted for one Premiership side this season, as well as a Livingston team who were in the top division last season, to secure a first ever national cup quarter-final.
But this is a different Aberdeen, this time the minnows are having to travel to Pittodrie and part-time Spartans have only won once in five outings since knocking out Ross County.
Peter Leven steadied the Dons ship in his second spell as caretaker last season after Neil Warnock’s ill-fated short spell in charge, but Thelin has transformed their fortunes since.
It has Reds fans dreaming of going one better than last year’s 1-0 defeat by Rangers in the final and lifting the trophy for the first time since edging Inverness Caledonian Thistle on penalties in 2014.
The 46-year-old Swede has himself only so far notched one trophy success – leading Jonkopings Sodra to the second-tier Superettan title a year later before finishing runner-up in the top flight twice with Elfsborg.
While his rebuilt current side are only being kept off the top of the Premiership by Celtic on goal difference, Thelin has warned supporters not to get “carried away” by thoughts of winning the league title and will realise the cup is always the best chance for non-Old Firm clubs to win silverware.
