Old pals are set to go into battle to secure the bragging rights
They are allies off the field.
But Graeme Shinnie is ready to declare war on Ryan Christie at Hampden today.
Aberdeen skipper Shinnie and Celtic star Christie came through the ranks together at Inverness Caley Thistle before joining up as Dons team- mates last season.
As friends, and Scottish Cup winners with the Caley Jags, they got to know each other’s games inside out.
Today they will go head-to-head in the Betfred Cup Final – and Shinnie admits they will do so as enemies.
“With Ryan having been at Aberdeen last season, we know exactly what he’s got and how much of a threat he can be,” said the Dons captain. “I guess it will be up to me to stop him.
“At Inverness, Ryan was brilliant in big games at a young age, and that’s stood him in good stead throughout his career.
“To win the Scottish Cup with Inverness was massive for him, with it being his hometown club.
“He’s a good lad to have in the dressing room, and I get on really well with him. “But we’ll be enemies on the pitch!” Christie’s star has risen at Celtic Park this season after spending the best part of a 18 months on loan at Aberdeen.
The Dons fans saw what he was capable of in his time at Pittodrie. But Shinnie has known his former team- mate was destined for great things since he was a kid.
“Right from when I first saw him, I knew Ryan would go on to have a good career,” he said.
“He had something about him, a confidence in himself. He had belief in his own ability.
“At Celtic, he probably just needed a break. Maybe with Scott Brown being injured for the past few weeks, a pathway opened up for him and he’s grabbed it.
“He works his socks off, which something I love about him.
“I remember in one of the training sessions at Inverness, he didn’t track back and I had a full-on argument with him that lasted for 30 minutes!
“We had a laugh about that when he came to Aberdeen.
“Growing up in that Inverness is side, it was all about working hard. Maybe we didn’t have all the ability in the world, but we worked as hard as we could.” Another Celtic star who has built a career on a foundation of hard work is Scott Brown.
Shinnie and Brown have previous, after clashing as Aberdeen beat the Bhoys in the final game of last season.
If their love- hate rivalry is reignited today, Aberdeen’s skipper is more than ready for it.
“I’ve seen Scott on a couple of occasions since the end of last season, and he probably hates me! But he’s more respectful than you think,” said Shinnie. “On the pitch, he is a battler like I am, and he goes all out to win for his team, which is something I respect and love.
“I’m like that myself when I get over the white line and onto the pitch.
“It’s about being competitive and, if he plays, we will be up against each other as we are two battlers and there will be points in the game when we come together.
“That’s what happens, and we will deal with it like men.”
As Aberdeen’s main man, Shinnie’s attitude is spot on – and not just towards personal battles on the park.
The 27- year- old understands the significance of his role as captain off the field, too.
His name is the latest on a list of legendary Pittodrie skippers such as Willie Miller, Alex Mcleish, Stewart Mckimmie and Russell Anderson.
Now he wants to join them in leading the Reds to cup glory.
“It’s something I was desperate for as soon as I came here,” revealed Shinnie.
“When you’re made captain, you want to lift silverware and be remembered at a club for doing that.
“Achieving it at Inverness was one of the best feelings in my career. That gave me a hunger to try to do more.
“We’ve had chances here – semi- finals and finals that I’ve enjoyed.
“But I want to go one step further and get my hands on a trophy.”