One of the standout ties from Saturday’s Scottish League Cup action will see Dundee do battle with Airdrie. The two teams have become familiar foes over the last 12 months after being drawn against each other in last season’s competition before squaring off in the Scottish Cup. Each of those two ties were goal-heavy games, making both teams to score an attractive option at Dens Park on Saturday.

The duo shared seven goals between them in a second round tie at this venue last August. In fact, goals at both ends was a recurring theme when Dundee were involved last season, with a league-high 26 of their 38  Scottish Premiership games seeing each team oblige. Moreover, that sample includes 16 of the Dark Blues’ 19 league games at home last term. 

Thus, Dundee could struggle to shutout an Airdrie side that carry plenty of attacking threat. Despite fighting relegation for the majority of last season, the Diamonds scored in 10 of their 18 league games away from home, with both teams netting in nine of those contests.

SPFL new boys East Kilbride will look to spring a shock when they face St Johnstone in the Scottish League Cup on Saturday. Mick Kennedy’s men secured promotion to Scottish League Two for the first time last season and they look like genuine contenders for back-to-back titles. St Johnstone, on the other hand, saw their 16-year stay in the top flight come to an end last term.

There are question marks over a St Johnstone side still in the process of reshaping their team and they could have one or two  teething problems to work through at K-Park on Saturday. The Kilby have performed well during pre-season, defeating Dunfermline 1-0 before earning a 2-2 draw with Morton. The ambitious South Lanarkshire outfit possess a strong squad on paper and they are more than capable of making their mark against a St Johnstone side that were held to a 1-1 draw by Forfar in a friendly fixture last weekend. The Saints will be up against a higher-calibre of Scottish League Two opposition this Saturday in the shape of EK, so goals at both ends looks the way to go again.

Peterhead will play host to Morton in the Scottish League Cup on Saturday afternoon. The Blue Toon will be in high spirits after securing promotion to Scottish League One last season. Meanwhile, Morton will be looking to improve on last term’s midtable finish in the Scottish Championship.

Injury wise, the visitors would appear to be one of the worst hit sides entering the competition,  so Peterhead could push their second tier guests to the limit. The Aberdeenshire outfit managed to hit the back of the net in 17 of their 18 home games last season, which doesn't bode well for a Morton side that failed to keep a clean sheet in 13 of their 18 road games last term. 

That being said, the Ton did manage to strike in 10 of their final 12 league games of last season, suggesting that they possess the necessary firepower to land a blow of their own here against lower league opposition. It’s also worth noting that both teams contributed to the scoring in seven of Morton’s last 12 games of the most recent campaign.