St Mirren remain a picture of stability under Stephen Robinson and it would be a surprise if they slipped up in their League Cup opener, even though a trip to Arbroath isn't the easiest assignment.
Since the Northern Irishman took over in 2022, he has steered the Buddies to three successive top-six finishes in the SPFL Premiership, performing better than many clubs with superior budgets.
The only thing missing has been a day out at Hampden, with Robinson's side yet to get beyond the quarter-finals in either of the domestic cups. Having led Motherwell to two showpieces in his days at Fir Park, Robinson will be out to put that right this season.
Most of last term's squad remains intact and that should help the Premiership side see off an Arbroath outfit who have a bit of momentum behind them after winning League One.
Co-bosses David Gold and Colin Hamilton have done a great job since taking charge early last season and will want to head into the Championship campaign off the back of some good cup results.
Gayfield is never the easiest of venues to visit as the wind batters in from the North Sea but with the heatwave due to continue into the weekend it will lose some of the fear factor for St Mirren.
How the bookies view it: Arbroath written off
Two divisions separated these sides last season and the bookies don't think we'll see a cup shock, with Arbroath 5/1 outsiders at BoyleSports. St Mirren are 2/5 favourites and the draw pays 16/5.
Recent head to head: Familiar foes
These sides have faced off twice in the League Cup groups in the last three seasons and it has been honours even. The Red Lichties claimed a shock 1-0 win in Paisley back in 2022 but the Buddies got their revenge with a 4-0 triumph at Gayfield a year later.
Players to watch: Roland on a roll
Roland Idowu has caught the eye in some of St Mirren's friendlies and should get a start here. The wide player only netted four times last term so should be decent odds if any scorer prices land.
Arbroath new boy Nikolay Todorov has been a prolific scorer in the Scottish lower leagues so he looks like being their best bet for a goal.
Probable line-ups
New St Mirren defender Richard King is unlikely to get a debut as he's getting extra time off after playing for Jamaica at the Gold Cup. But fellow summer signing Jayden Richardson could get a start for Robinson's side.
Injury will stop Arbroath midfielder Ross Callachan from making his debut but summer signings Craig Watson, Aaron Muirhead, Arran Pettifer, Findlay Marshall, Rocco Hickey-Fugaccia and Todorov are in contention.
Arbroath: McAdams, Muirhead, Watson, O'Brien, Hamilton, Pettifer, Dow, Coulson, Stewart, Todorov.
St Mirren: Urminsky, Fraser, Gogic, Tanser, Richardson, Smyth, Phillips, O'Hara, Idowu, Mandron, Scott.
Anything else catch the eye?
Arbroath look to have recruited pretty well but it could take all their new boys time to gel while St Mirren have a settled side. That makes me think the Buddies should win this one fairly comfortably and backing them to be winning at half-time and full-time pays 5/4 at BoyleSports.
The Premiership side also look decent value at the same price for -1 in the handicap, given they thrashed Arbroath 4-0 on their last visit to Gayfield.
The bookies are notorious for treating the Scottish League Cup group games with disdain so there's a lack of markets available. Corners are always a good option on the tight Gayfield pitch but I've yet to see any prices for them.
Most of the action has come after the break in the last two meetings of these sides so it could pay to back the second period as the highest-scoring half at 6/5 with William Hill.
GambleAware