League Cup: Last season's top-five enter tournament at last-16 stage

The Scottish League Cup returns this weekend with the last 16 teams only two wins away from a semi-final place at the national stadium.

Hampden will, of course, play host to one of the round two games on Saturday with Rangers currently playing their home games there while work continues at Ibrox.

Last season’s winners will take on St Johnstone in the southside of Glasgow as they look to take a step further to recapturing the trophy.

Philippe Clement’s men are one of five teams entering the tournament at this stage alongside Celtic, St Mirren, Hearts, and Kilmarnock.

The other eleven sides already got their campaign underway in the group stage section played before the leagues return.

This season’s League Cup takes on a bit of extra significance with Glasgow’s big two competing to become Scotland’s most decorated club.

Rangers held that title for nearly 70 years but are now equal with Celtic following last season when the Hoops won the Premiership and Scottish Cup double.

They both currently sit on 118 major trophies each so if one of them wins the first piece of silverware of this campaign they will go one clear.

Celtic kick-off their journey to Hampden on Sunday with a home game against Hibs that comes a week after the sides met at Easter Road.

New signing Adam Idah could make his second debut after sealing a return to Parkhead following a successful loan spell last season.

Elsewhere Aberdeen will be aiming to continue their 100% winning start under Jimmy Thelin when they host Championship side Queen’s Park.

St Mirren and Kilmarnock both have tough away ties on the back of their European excursions midweek with the Saints hoping to bounce back from their defeat to SK Brann at Tannadice.

Killie, who beat Tromso in Norway to set up a Conference League playoff clash with Danish side Copenhagen, will be aiming to make it two wins in a week when they travel to Fir Park to play Motherwell.

Dundee host Airdrie while Hearts face a trip to Falkirk and Ross County will travel to Spartans.