Celtic may be overwhelming favourites for this weekend’s Betfred Cup final but Aberdeen defender Graeme Shinnie believes his lucky pair of boxers can ensure it will be the Dons who are celebrating at full time on Sunday.
Brendan Rodgers’ Hoops are yet to taste defeat in domestic football this season and will be expected to complete the first step towards a possible treble at Hampden this weekend.
The odds seem stacked against Derek McInnes’ side but they head to Hampden in a confident frame of mind after successive wins against Partick Thistle and Caley Thistle.
The Dons have also been afforded an extra couple of days to focus on the final compared to the Hoops, who were in action against Barcelona in the Champions League last night.
Only time will tell whether that extra preparation time will have any difference on the eventual outcome of Sunday’s showpiece – but Shinnie believes the real difference could come down to whether or not he remembers to pack his lucky pants.
He said: “I’m not overly superstitious but I’ve started one since I’ve come here.
“It’s only recently it’s happened.
“Andy Considine and a few of the lads were having a go at the boxers I had on.
“They are white and pink and they seem to be doing well for me.
“Every time I wear them we seem to win. They have turned into my lucky boxers so I will need to wear them on Sunday.
“I am not overly mad on superstitions.
“But when we went on a good run and won six in a row I was warming up at the front of the queue.
“I made sure I did that each week. But I won’t be doing anything new on Sunday.”
Shinnie believes a vocal Aberdeen support can also play a part in delivering the club’s second trophy in the space of three years.
The Dons will be roared on by more than 22,000 supporters after the club secured an even split of cup final briefs with Celtic.
It will be a completely different scenario from what Shinnie enjoyed when he was part of the Caley Thistle team beaten by the Dons on penalties in the 2014 League Cup final at Parkhead.
The Dons took 43,000 supporters to Glasgow on that occasion, while around 7,000 people made the trip south from Inverness.
Shinnie said: “It was a weird one because at Inverness we were used to being outnumbered.
“We had it in the semi-final against Hearts at Easter Road when they packed out the stadium.
“Our crowds at Inverness were around 2,300 but it’s obviously different here at Aberdeen.
“We have a massive following and that adds pressure when they turn out in their numbers.
“But the players all appreciate their support.
“It will be a great sight to see so many Aberdeen supporters and the atmosphere at Hampden will be electric.
“There’s no better feeling.
“There’s some games with lesser crowds that you need to get motivated for but this isn’t one of them.
“When you walk out and see the crowd you know what you are getting into.
“It’s about trying to keep calm. I will be hyped up for the match but you need to keep your composure throughout the game.”
Even with his lucky boxer shorts, Shinnie admits he will be feeling a bit jittery ahead of Sunday’s final kicking off – but feels confident his side can come out on top against the Scottish Premiership leaders.
He added: “Everyone gets nerves but in different ways.
“My nerves are not as bad now as they were when I was younger.
“That comes with experience.
“But a game like this I’m sure there will be nerves and butterflies on the bus.
“That’s part and parcel of being in a cup final and it’s part of the enjoyment too.
“You know when you are going to Hampden you are involved in a really big game.
“It’s something special.
“Cup finals are special moments in a player’s career and this one will be the same.
“You drive up to the stadium, down the tunnel and into the dressing rooms. It’s a great day and you want to look back with good memories.”