Aberdeen midfielder Kenny McLean reckons Saturday’s Betfred Cup semi-final is coming at the perfect time for his teammates.
Derek McInnes’ Reds head into this Saturday’s match against Morton after extending their winning run to five matches with a comfortable 4-0 win against 10-man Ross County.
It was the second successive match in which the Dons had scored four after a similarly impressive 4-0 win against Kilmarnock before the international break.
McLean said: “We knew the semi-final was just around the corner but it was important to not look past the opponent that was in front of us.
“There has been a lot of talk about the semi-final and it is easy to get your head turned by looking forward to that day at Hampden, but we have dealt with it really well.
“We have taken care of business very well in the last few games. The game against Kilmarnock was probably the best we have played, so to follow that up by scoring four goals at home means our confidence is high.
“We have good momentum but anything can happen in cup football.
“It is going to be tough and we will need to be on top of our game.”
McLean, who was part of the St Mirren team that won the League Cup with a 3-2 win against Hearts at Hampden in 2013, is refusing to take Jim Duffy’s Morton lightly.
The Greenock side enjoyed a stunning 5-0 win at Championship leaders Queen of the South on Saturday and McLean feels both sides will go into Saturday’s match with optimism.
He added: “Morton have been on a great run and will be fancying their chances, so we will need to be at our best.
“We can’t show any complacency but our confidence levels are high and if we play our best then we will give ourselves a very good chance.
“Morton will be thinking the same, so it is important we go into the match with the right approach.
“Everyone wants that day at Hampden. At the start of the season when we set our goals, the day at Hampden is one we always want to achieve.
“We have put ourselves in a good position. We have a tough semi-final, so we can’t look too far beyond that. But if we go into the game with the right attitude then with the way we have been playing we will give ourselves a great chance.”