Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has challenged his players to show how much they want more cup success this season.
The Scottish Cup road to Hampden begins on Saturday when the Dons travel to Dundee for a fourth round tie in one of five all-Scottish Premiership matches.
With almost half of the top flight guaranteed to be eliminated in this round McInnes knows the importance of progressing at Dens Park.
The Dons manager, whose side are also in the semi-finals of the League Cup, said: “We’ve done well in cups, only losing once in the semi-final to St Johnstone last season and we want to do well again this season.
“The competition is an important one for us as it is another opportunity for us to have success, but we are under no illusions as it is going to be a very tough tie for us at Dundee.
“Dundee will see it that way as well and I’m sure neither club was overly thrilled when the draw paired us together.
“It’s a great tie for us as we will have a big support behind us. We won a tight game there in the league a few weeks ago and having watched Dundee against Celtic on Saturday I know we will have to play extremely well to go through.”
The manager’s options were restricted by injury and suspension at Partick Thistle on Sunday but Shay Logan and Barry Robson, pictured, are expected to return for the trip to face former Don Paul Hartley’s side.
The return of key personnel has been welcomed by McInnes as he looks to continue a fine run of eight victories and just two defeats in the last 11 games.
He said: “We know we are in reasonably shape just now but we have to keep showing the consistency and win games.
“We’ve had the same nine or 10 players playing this season but it’s the time of season now for whoever comes in to do their part.
“We saw that at Partick and we will need to see it again, but I am sure the players will respond to the challenge.”
With his squad stretched McInnes has the option of taking a break in January.
Celtic have taken up the option to postpone a league match on January 10 but the Dons manager has no plans to follow suit.
He said: “We took the opportunity earlier in the season to take a break as we faced the prospect of four games in 11 days due to our European commitments.
“It was not something we did on a whim and I don’t envisage us taking up that option in January. You are more likely to find us on Aberdeen beach than anywhere else.”