MORTON complete their Premier Sports Cup campaign today with a home game against Clyde which has more significance off the park than on it from the club's point of view.

For the first time since last March Cappielow will be properly opened up, with fans back in the Cowshed once again, after Ton were given the green light to host 1,500 supporters by the authorities as pandemic restrictions finally ease.

They will be returning to see what is, from Ton's perspective, a dead rubber after their hopes of making it out of Group G were extinguished in midweek.

But the crowd will just be pleased to be back in the old stadium in the sunshine watching a game after a year and a half of this wretched pandemic and the terrible toll it has taken.

While Morton's chance of qualifying for the knock-out rounds has gone, the game against the League One outfit remains important amid the build-up to the beginning of the league campaign next week.

Their fixtures in the group have become part of their pre-season preparations after Covid-19 cases at the club claimed a friendly against Largs then the tie at Stranraer.

The shutdown at the club cost the manager and his players 10 days of training and it has left them playing catch-up, so today is a good chance to get more minutes under their belt and build towards full match fitness.

While they cannot qualify this can still be a useful exercise for Gus MacPherson and his players as they look towards the Championship kick-off against Dunfermline next weekend.

They could even have been going in to this one with a chance of still making it through despite the forfeiture of the game at Stair Park.

After passing up a point by needing penalties to overcome East Kilbride they were on the cusp of what would have been a terrific victory over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on Tuesday night.

They led for most of the match through a fine goal by youngster Lewis McGregor only to be cruelly pegged back with a last-gasp 91st minute equaliser.

This time Ton were on the wrong end of the resultant spot kicks, which remarkably brought their fifth such defeat in a year from seven shootouts.

If the final outcome was frustrating then there was plenty of room for consolation, with lots of positives to take from the match.

Killie are the clear title favourites and look to have assembled a good side which will be the one to beat over the next nine months.

They've enjoyed a trouble-free pre-season and have recruited strongly, bringing in 14 players to Morton's four, while Ton have also had to deal with lots of disruption.

In the circumstances, the visitors acquitted themselves well, were competitive throughout and unlucky not to see the game out.

They understandably tired a little towards the end and it was natural that they were going to end up dropping deep as the tank drained off the back of recent events.

While many players have left the club this summer, the defence - one of last season's strong points - continues to look like an assured and reliable unit, which gives a foundation to build upon.

There were also a few flashes of encouragement going the other way, with the highlight being young McGregor's terrific curling strike.

New signing Gozie Ugwu put in a strong performance up front and looks like a useful acquisition who will give defences a difficult time.

Even this early it is apparent that he is an upgrade on the options the manager had last season and if he can stay fit and the right support can be found to play around him then he will be an asset.

Gary Oliver will be one of the players asked to act as a foil to the big Englishman and his showing in midweek was hugely encouraging.

This was more like the Oliver of the 2016-17 season that he first came to the club, showing clever movement, plenty of good touches and expertly linking the play.

At his best Oliver is an accomplished footballer with a lot to offer and hopefully having better players around him will allow the 26-year-old to recapture and maintain the kind of consistent form he is capable of at this level.

But arguably the most important players are the ones not in the door yet.

Every observer would agree that this squad is four of five bodies short, and a lot is going to depend on the players that the manager brings in.

MacPherson has been working hard behind the scenes, hoping to get deals completed this week.

If he can find the right additions over the next week then it would inject a bit of increased optimism in time for the new campaign.