The memories of last season's League Cup final are still as uncomfortable today as the physical difficulties he faced were on that spring day at Celtic Park.

Which is why Jonny Hayes, the Aberdeen winger removed from the pitch after just four minutes of the final due to a serious shoulder injury, yearns for another bite of the cherry as his side embark on a road they hope will lead to Hampden.

Livingston are the Pittodrie side's third round opponents tonight and, while the home side are favourites to progress after their impressive demolition of Ross County in the league at the weekend, two words will prompt caution: Alloa Athletic. The part-time side forced Aberdeen into extra time at the same stage last season before the SPFL Premiership club won through on penalties.

Hayes, however, is eager to experience another full cup run and then complete the final at the national stadium this season. That will require his side to avoid any slip-ups this evening.

"Personally, I'd love to be involved in another final or two and play a big part in them," he said, recalling his brief appearance in last season's final triumph over Inverness Caledonian Thistle and his inability to enjoy the post-match festival because of the pain from his shoulder. "We won the final but I missed out on most of it and I couldn't even celebrate properly - I couldn't move about thanks to the injury.

"I'd love to play in a final and to be a big part of it. Winning the cup last season was great for the club but that's in the past now and we have to look forward to trying to retain it. We were given a fright against Alloa in the competition last season when they took us to penalty kicks at Pittodrie but we're looking forward to getting off on the right foot against Livingston.

"When you get teams coming to Pittodrie, especially on cup nights, they try and sit-in and defend and hit you on the counter. So, we're well aware what might happen and we know it might take penalties to get through.

"It doesn't really matter. As long as we're in the draw for the next round that's all we want. You don't want to be going out in the first round and have a season where there's nothing to play for."

Hayes has, on a number of occasions, found himself acting as an unlikely left-back. It is a position for which he initially felt unsuited but one he now enjoys, as he showed against County three days ago.

"I spoke with the manager [Derek McInnes] about this," the 27-year-old said. "I really enjoy playing left-back. It's not ideal sometimes, but I'm learning all the time and if the manager wants me there and he thinks that I'm doing a good enough job in that position, then I'm happy."

Aberdeen will be without forward Niall McGinn - who suffered a hamstring injury against County - and McInnes is wary of the threat posed by Championship opponents Livingston. "There will be no pressure on [Livingston]. They have nothing to lose," said McInnes.

"They will come here with confidence. I have watched them umpteen teams and they are a good side. They have a way of playing. They are very fit and organised and try to make the pitch big. We have a job to do but the experience the players had last season should drive them forward to want to experience that again."

It is to the experience of others that Livingston will turn to help them cause an upset this evening. John McGlynn is aware his players face a formidable task at Pittodrie but has reminded them that Leicester City overcame the odds to record a famous result just at the weekend. The side defeated Manchester United to win 5-3.

"Aberdeen are a really good side so they are rightly favourites to go through," said McGlynn. "We know that we have to play well to do anything but there is no point in being defeatist about it.

"Not many people would have given Leicester a chance against Manchester United and even fewer would have said that they would have scored five times. That shows that upsets can happen."