Prize for Wallace

need to have a game plan in place and hopefully get the result.

“We are desperate to get in the group stages. People still talk about the Bayern Munich and Copenhagen games. That’s what we want,” he added.

“As a squad and a club that’s the aim. The supporters filled Pittodrie on Thursday and they would love to welcome big clubs to Aberdeen. It’s a massive test and a massive game for us this week and hopefully we can do well.”

Aberdeen kick off their league season against Hamilton Academical on Sunday but Shinnie admitted it has been hard to concentrate on this assignment. After three Europa League qualifying games already, they have become accustomed to Thursday night fixtures.

The squad will fly to Cyprus tomorrow and are well warned about the baking temperature they are likely to experience.

“Last year against Maribor, I felt we were the better team home and away and we ended up going out,” recalled Shinnie. “That was disappointing. It was the same the year before in Kazakhstan. It was tough going, but I felt we had enough to get through.

“We can’t have that on Thursday. We can’t be coming home on the plane thinking, ‘what if we done this or that?’ We need to go there, get the job done and come home happy,” he added.

“We can use the memories of going out in the two previous years – and hopefully take advantage of them.

“We also have the experience of playing in the heat against Rijeka and winning. It will be the same sort of temperature this week, but we’ve shown we can handle that.”