Colchester United will take on two of their nearest rivals in the group stages of the Checkatrade Trophy, with the first game expected to be in September.
As well as facing Ipswich Town and Gillingham, the U's will take on one of the invited teams.
Those sixteen teams have been split geographically, and the draw to see which of the eight Southern sides the U's play will be made on Friday lunchtime.
The U's played Southampton U21s last season, and the Saints are in the draw again this time round, joined by Arsenal, Tottenham, West Ham, Norwich City, Brighton & Hove Albion, Chelsea and Fulham.
For full details of the groups and the invited teams, click HERE.