Dundee goalkeeper Scott Bain has been motivated by his Aberdeen rejection throughout his career and not just when he faces the Dons.
Bain was released by the Pittodrie club as a teenager but quickly moved through Scotland’s four divisions after being signed by Paul Hartley for both Alloa and Dundee.
The 24-year-old faced Aberdeen five times last season, with each side winning once and drawing the other three games, and he is again relishing the prospect of facing the Dons at Dens Park today.
Bain said: “I like playing against them, I have done well against them in the past. It’s more a case of trying to play well every week and if it comes against Aberdeen, it comes against Aberdeen.
“When I was told I was not good enough as a kid, it could have gone two ways. It could have destroyed me or made me stronger. It built a belief they had made a mistake. I wanted to prove them wrong and prove myself right.
“That’s why, when I first came to Dundee, I liked playing against Aberdeen a bit more.”
Bain is not the only Dundee player who has reached the Premiership the hard way – most of Hartley’s starting line-up in recent weeks have been recruited from Scotland’s lower leagues.
“Going down to play the divisions and playing lots of games was the best thing,” the Scotland squad player said. “A lot of the players will feel the same way. Getting first-team experience, even if it’s not at the highest level, is better than being at a top-flight club and just sitting there and being a bit-part player. A lot of people have got a lot to prove here, as well as myself.”