Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie believes reaching the lucrative group stages of the Europa League must be the target this season
The Dons began preparations for the qualifier against either Bosnian side NK Siroki Brijeg or Ordabasy from Kazakhstan with a 3-0 friendly win against St Johnstone in Perth on Saturday.
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After being knocked out in the third qualifying round in each of the past three years, former Caley Thistle player Shinnie remains optimistic the Dons can go all the way to the group stages this time.
He said: “It would be massive for us to reach the groups, it is a stage we would all love to play on.
“If we were to make it then some of the stadiums and teams we would play against would be brilliant.
“It is tough to get there but we played really well in the two ties we lost in the past two years against Kairat Almaty and Maribor and were unfortunate to be knocked out.
“We strive to get better every year and give ourselves that chance of reaching the play-off round when it would be a shootout against one team.
“The group stages are where we would love to be but it is tough to get there.
“Our whole focus needs to be on the first game and then take it one at a time after that.
“We know it will be tough in Bosnia or Kazakhstan but we have the calibre of players to get through.”
Shinnie has been encouraged by the way manager Derek McInnes has begun rebuilding the squad following the departure of several first-team players.
Scotland international Shaun Maloney is expected to become the club’s fourth summer signing with Greg Tansey, Greg Stewart and Ryan Christie already brought in.
Shinnie believes Maloney, 34, would be an excellent acquisition for the Dons.
He added: “He is an older, wiser head that will bring a lot to the team, both on and off the pitch. That is the type of player we want here to push us on.
“There was a lot of talk when Jonny Hayes left, Ryan Jack went to Rangers and the potential of the manager leaving.
“There was a dark cloud hanging over things but when the manager announced he was staying that disappeared and the positivity came back.”