Niall McGinn has urged football bosses to keep the Scottish Cup up for grabs if they write off the league season.
The Aberdeen winger accepts it is looking increasingly unlikely that the Scottish Professional Football League campaign will be completed - although that remains his preference.
McGinn, however, believes the cup, which is under the jurisdiction of the Scottish Football Association, should be played to a close – even if it means going into next season.
The Dons are scheduled to play Celtic while Hearts have Hibs in the other semi-final.
The Northern Irish international stated: “The Scottish Cup is separate from the league, so regardless of what decision the SPFL make, the cup competition should get finished, even if that means the semi-final against Celtic is our first game back.
“That has to be the hope anyway.”
McGinn also believes that whenever football returns then all the players will need a pre-season before they can get started again.
He admitted: “Teams are more than likely going to need a pre-season again.
“You can run all day or train all day but none of that is ever the same as doing all the work together as a team and actually playing football.”
Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes has given his players a fitness programme to keep them going and McGinn has also bought himself a bike to tick over.
McGinn confirmed: "I bought myself a mountain bike, so I went out for a cycle on Wednesday last week.
“Our sports scientist Graham Kirk along with the coaches arranged some sessions remotely, so I did that on Thursday and went back on the bike Friday and Saturday. Last week was just about keeping the legs going.
“Graham then set up a new programme which started from Monday. The way it is set up, he can keep an eye on us, as can the manager and all the staff.
“We have all downloaded the app Strava so we can do all our training and he can monitor all the work that we are doing.”
McGinn’s family are still in Northern Ireland and he has been forced to keep in touch with them via FaceTime.
He admitted: “All my family still live back home so it is important to keep tabs on them – that’s my mum, my dad, my twin sisters and an older brother.
“It is hard when you are a professional sportsman as you don’t have much time off to see your family. I have time away from football now and still can’t see them! So that is tough.”
