Aberdeen might have spent much of this season flexing but the club's new brawn has still to be reflected in silverware.
That is significant given that cup competitions are when teams from Pittodrie tend to look at their most frail and there will be some supporters who flinch at the sound of the first whistle at Firhill tomorrow. The William Hill Scottish Cup is only in the fourth round and already holds a capacity to put the club's ambitions on the ropes.
Having reached the Scottish League Cup semi-finals, Aberdeen have landed a few jabs to such concerns this season, though, and giving another beating to Partick Thistle would allow their confidence to grow still further. The Firhill side have lost both SPFL Premiership meetings with Aberdeen this term - conceding seven goals along the way.
The Pittodrie side will hope for similar joy in Glasgow's west end tomorrow then and they are bringing with them the momentum from a league campaign which has led the side comfortably into the top six. "I felt strongly this year a lot of the younger members of the squad have grown up," said Andrew Considine, the Aberdeen defender.
"I think that's with playing every week and having confidence instilled in them from the manager [Derek McInnes] and Tony [Docherty, the assistant manager]. It's shown in the league and we just need to keep doing that in the cup."
That is a sentiment which the club has toyed with for some time now having not won a trophy since the 1996 League Cup. "It's massively important for a club like Aberdeen," said Considine. "We want to get as high as possible in the league but I feel we owe ourselves, the club and the supporters a good run in the cup.
"It would be great to win a cup this year. The confidence is high within the squad. I feel we have the players to do it this year."
Thistle are aware that one of their most impressive performers will not be around beyond this season, with Aaron Taylor-Sinclair reportedly drawing attention from Celtic. The left-back is out of contract in the summer, and free to sign a pre-contract agreement in January, although Alan Archibald intends to resist any offers to prise away the 22-year-old during the next transfer window.
"I would rather keep Aaron and stay up with Aaron in the team," said the Thistle manager. "That is something we need to weigh up as a club - is it worth more to us to keep Aaron and stay in the league, or get something financially?
"Celtic have not approached us. I don't think he is at that point yet where he can go and speak to them. When that six-month period comes then they can go and speak to him directly or his agent. It's not changed from our end; we know Aaron is going to go. We'll keep a hold of him as long as we can."
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