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The Scottish League Cup marks its 80th anniversary, and this year, the tournament will receive unprecedented attention.
A new agreement between the Scottish Professional Football League and broadcaster Premier Sports will allow 25 group stage matches to be streamed live on the website, in addition to others being televised.
As usual, 40 teams, excluding the five participating in European competitions who receive byes to the knockout stage, will compete in eight groups of five, all aiming to emulate current holders Celtic.
Under the Premier Sports Cup banner, the competition kicks off on Friday evening with Edinburgh City facing Partick Thistle, followed by 15 more matches on Saturday. But which match-ups are the most intriguing, and what are the peculiar rules to watch out for?
Odd Rules That Favor Top Teams
Let's address those unusual rules first.
In addition to Aberdeen, Celtic, Dundee United, Hibernian, and Rangers being automatically placed in the last 16 due to their European commitments, the seven other teams from last season's Premiership are seeded.
Consequently, relegated Ross County finds themselves in a group without current Premiership teams, while Group H features two - Kilmarnock and newly promoted Livingston.
However, it's not just the group winners who advance; three spots are reserved for the best runners-up after each team plays one match against the others.
Livingston's visit to Rugby Park on Wednesday could be crucial for both teams and is one of the most significant games of the group stage.
Yes, another peculiar rule is that the top-ranked side always has home advantage against the second seeds of the group.
What further distinguishes the League Cup is that if a match ends in a draw, both sides receive a point each, but the game then goes to a penalty shootout without extra time, with the winners earning a potentially decisive bonus point.
Group A
Championship winners Falkirk will be pleased to be drawn in a group where their main competition is expected to be Queen's Park, who struggled against relegation last season while the Bairns secured promotion under new head coach Sean Crighton.
John McGlynn's team starts away to Highland League runners-up Brechin City and will also fancy their chances against third-tier Cove Rangers and League 2's Spartans.
Group B
Despite Queen of the South being from a lower division, County and Thistle, both of whom lost in last season's Premiership play-offs, are expected to compete directly for the top spot when they meet in their group's final game on 26 July in Dingwall.
Both Championship teams begin their campaigns away to League Two opposition - County in Stranraer, while Edinburgh hosts a Thistle side now managed by Mark Wilson following co-manager Brian Graham's move to Falkirk as a player.
Group C
New Dundee head coach Steven Pressley has a chance to make an early impact against his side's main challengers when Airdrieonians, who narrowly avoided dropping to the third tier via the play-offs, visit Dens Park on Saturday.
Third-tier part-timers Alloa Athletic and Montrose, along with Bonnyrigg Rose, now in the Lowland League, are not expected to pose significant challenges thereafter.
Group D
St Mirren, who finished sixth in the top flight, face Ayr United, who lost in the promotion play-offs, in another potential top-place showdown on 27 July.
First, however, Stephen Robinson's Buddies face a tricky opener on Saturday away to League 1 champions Arbroath, while third-tier Annan Athletic hosts League 2 side Forfar Athletic in search of consolation points.
Group E
Heart of Midlothian return to the League Cup after a three-year absence, and missing out on Europe has led to a coaching change, with Derek McInnes moving from Kilmarnock to make his competitive debut at home to Dunfermline Athletic.
The Edinburgh side is favored in an early group decider despite the second-tier Pars retaining their well-known team boss Neil Lennon, who led them to safety from relegation while in interim charge.
The group also includes two sides relegated after 15-point penalties last season.
Hearts will be the first to visit Hamilton Academical at their new home in Broadwood, Cumbernauld, after the club, relegated to League 1, relocated 15 miles due to a stadium dispute.
Meanwhile, Dumbarton begins life under new Canadian owner Mario Lapointe on Tuesday at home against League 2 rivals Stirling, who host Accies on Saturday.
Group F
Relegated St Johnstone will be pleased to have been placed in a group where their main challengers are likely to be Raith Rovers, who missed out on the promotion play-offs last season but finished strongly under new head coach Barry Robson.
The Lowland League champions East Kilbride host Saturday's match, marking their first game as an SPFL club after their promotion, hoping to move past Tuesday's 8-0 defeat by Hearts in a closed-doors friendly following promising performances against second-tier teams, including a win over Dunfermline and a draw with Greenock Morton.
Rovers visit League 2 side Elgin City, while third-tier Inverness Caledonian Thistle begins their campaign midweek.
Group G
Former IFK Goteborg head coach Jens Berthel Askou does not have to travel far for his first competitive game as Motherwell's manager.