Things to watch in Premier Sports Cup last 16

Cup holders Rangers will look to put Tuesday’s Champions League qualifying defeat by Dynamo Kyiv behind them in the first of four all-Premiership ties.

It means Philippe Clement’s side return to the national stadium having won just one of their four outings this season – Saturday’s narrow defeat of struggling visitors Motherwell.

Rangers’ temporary home amid Ibrox renovations was far from full to watch them against the Ukrainians – how many will turn up to see them against less lauded opponents from the east after such a European body blow?

Craig Levein’s visitors have had a mixed start to the season but arrive on the back of an impressive 3-0 win over Kilmarnock, albeit the hosts were down to 10 men for most of game.

The form of Benjamin Kimpioka, with six goals already this season, and fellow striker Adama Sidibeh, with four, has led to media speculation about their futures and scouts will be keen to see how they test a Rangers defence that lost left-back Ridvan Yilmaz to injury on Tuesday.

Indeed, St Johnstone have not scored in the latest five meetings between the sides since winning at McDiarmid Park in November 2022.

Saints lost all three meetings last season by an aggregate of 8-0 and they have suffered four straight defeats away to Rangers since a penalty shoot-out Scottish Cup win at Ibrox in April 2021.