The SPFL have confirmed the Betfred Cup will begin in October.
League bosses revealed the schedule for 2020/21 tournament on Monday morning - with the Final pushed back until February next year.
The group stage format, traditionally played over the summer, will be retained to coincide with domestic league competition in the autumn.
Top Premiership sides, including reigning champions Celtic and runners-up Rangers, will again enter at the second round.
All 42 clubs have announced their availability to compete, dispelling previous concerns some lower league teams may not take part due to the delayed start to their campaign.
SPFL chief Neil Doncaster admits piecing the competition together has been made tough by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said: “Last season’s Betfred Cup was a hugely successful competition and we are looking forward to the same combination of excitement and passion this season.
“The process of scheduling the SPFL’s premier cup competition has been made much more difficult this year due to the disruption caused by Covid-19, but we are delighted to be in a position to confirm five uninterrupted rounds of fixtures once again.
“The innovations made to the competition in the last few seasons have proved to be a real winner with clubs and supporters alike.
“We are extremely grateful to our friends at Premier Sports, Betfred and the Scottish FA for their flexibility in agreeing this season’s Betfred Cup schedule.
“We wish all the clubs the best of luck in their quest to reach next year’s final.”
Betfred Cup dates in full
Round 1
Match day 1 – Tuesday, October 6 2020
Match day 2 – Saturday, October 10 2020
Match day 3 – Tuesday, October 13 2020
Match day 4 – Tuesday, November 10 2020
Match day 5 – Saturday, November 14 2020
Round 2
Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November 2020
Quarter Final
Tuesday 15, Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 December 2020
Semi Final
Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 January 2021
Final
