St Mirren will begin their defence of the Premier Sports Cup in a group section including Scottish Cup runners-up Dunfermline Athletic, Cove Rangers, League 2 champions East Kilbride and Dumbarton. The Buddies, then managed by Stephen Robinson, beat Celtic 3-1 in December's final after topping their group ahead of Ayr United, Arbroath, Forfar Athletic and Annan Athletic.