Ayr United have discovered who they will face in the group stage of the Premier Sports Cup.

Fixtures will commence on July 9/10 in Scotland's first competitve matches of the 2022/23 season.

The draw could see a lot of travelling for Lee Bullen's side, depending on which matches are played away from Somerset Park, after the regionalised group stage draw of previous seasons was scrapped

The top seeded side they will face is St Johnstone, who will be on a high after their Premiership playoff survival on Monday night, May 23.

Callum Davidson's men defeated Inverness Caledonian Thistle 6-2 on aggregate to secure their spot in Scotland's top league next season.

They also won this competition in 2020/21, so will no doubt make formidable opposition.

Moving to the opposite end of the nation, the Honest Men will also face recently relegated Queen of the South - who will be out to prove they can still compete with Championship sides, despite their relegation to League One.

In league meetings last season, United lost two, drew one and won one of their matches against the bottom placed side.

Staying in the south, Annan Athletic will also face off against the Honest Men in the group stages.

Annan performed well in cup comeptitions last season, making it to the last 16 of the Scottish Cup, only to be defeated 3-0 by eventual champions Rangers.

The final team in Ayr's group is Elgin City. 

The Borough Briggs outfit finished one spot above the relegation playoff in the bottom league last season, though were eight points clear of Cowdenbeath in last position.

The matchdays for the ties, with fixtures to be confirmed at a later date, are:

Matchday One - July 9/10

Matchday Two - July 12/13

Matchday Three - July 16/17

Matchday Four - July19/20

Matchday Five - July 23/24

Ayr United's group in full:

GROUP F

St. Johnstone

Ayr United

Queen of the South

Annan Athletic

Elgin City