Luton Town will begin their defence of the EFL Trophy against fellow League One side Peterborough United, League Two outfit Colchester United and one of eight Premier League academy teams.
The Hatters lifted the trophy at Wembley last season after defeating Stockport County 3-1 in the final, giving Jack Wilshere the first silverware of his managerial career as Town ended a difficult campaign on a high.
Attention will now turn to retaining the trophy, with the group stage draw set to take place live on Sky Sports News at 2.30pm on Thursday.
Town already know they will face Peterborough and Colchester in the opening phase of the competition, while their third group opponent will be one of the under-21 teams from Arsenal, Brentford, Brighton, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Ipswich Town or Tottenham Hotspur.
The group stage will get under way in early September, with exact dates to be confirmed once the EFL fixture list is released next Thursday.
The top two teams from each group will progress to the knockout rounds, which begin in December.
Luton’s victory at Wembley last season ensured the competition became one of the highlights of Wilshere’s first campaign in charge.
The Hatters produced a memorable performance under the arch to defeat Stockport and lift the trophy, with Nahki Wells bagging a double on a day that helped restore belief around Kenilworth Road after successive relegations.
It was the second time Town have won the competition but unlike their triumph in 2008, this time Luton will be able to defend the Trophy. Eighteen years ago, their Wembley joy was followed a few days latter by their inevitable relegation out of the Football League after 89 years, due to the 30-point penalty imposed on the club before a ball was kicked the previous summer.
The knockout stages begin with the round of 32 during the week commencing December 7, followed by the round of 16 in January, quarter-finals in February and semi-finals in March. The final is scheduled to take place on Sunday, April 11.
As in previous years, EFL Trophy fixtures will remain regionalised until the quarter-final stage.
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