Scott McKenna reckons Aberdeen will show a Warrior spirit to win in the Arctic.
Tonight’s match against RoPS sees the Dons play the furthest north in their history after travelling to Rovaniemi – the capital of Lapland.
And McKenna insists the astroturf pitch there is just like Stenhousemuir’s.
Aberdeen hold a precarious 2-1 lead in the Europa League first qualifying round clash.
McKenna knows his side will have to adapt to the pitch and then their Finnish opponents.
Artificial surfaces are commonplace in Scotland but the defender compared the park to Ochilview rather than anything in the Premiership.
McKenna said: “It’s the closest to Stenhousemuir’s that I can compare it to. We play on astro regularly at home so there can be no excuses about the surface.
“It’s a pitch where spin on the ball will be exaggerated but we’ll get used to it.”
RoPS’s late stunner at Pittodrie has given them hope.
McKenna knows Aberdeen have to learn their lesson from that because in European competition it’s all about fine margins. He said: “The away goal has definitely put more pressure on us. It was a lapse in concentration from us but they took their chance.
“Had we taken ours the tie would be more comfortable.
“They only need one goal and we’ll be out but hopefully that’s not the case and we can score and go through. This is the first time the boys had all played together in a competitive game so hopefully we’ll be better for that in this game.
“Strikers don’t have that cutting edge in the first game but that will come.”
This is McKenna’s first European trip overseas with Aberdeen as he only made his debut last season against Burnley, where they took the Premier League side all the way to extra time.
The 22-year-old feels his form dipped last term but is determined to get back to his best. McKenna said: “I don’t feel I had the best season compared to the season before but I played in a cup final, captained the team in a semi-final and have eight caps for my country.
“Injuries and suspensions meant I didn’t play nine or 10 matches at the top of my game but hopefully with some time off and now back at it I can produce consistent performances.
“There was a level of expectation where people think you’ll be man of the match every week because offers have been coming in for you and I didn’t do that. But it’s a new season and I’m ready for it.”
Rovaniemi is famed for being able to see the Northern Lights in the middle of winter. Just now this part of the Arctic Circle is in 24-hour daylight. But McKenna said: “I can definitely sleep anywhere, it’s not going to affect me.
“The furthest we’ve got is the third round. Getting through four rounds to the groups would be a massive task but it’s something we want to achieve.”
● If Aberdeen beat RoPS they face a nightmare 6000-MILE round-trip to play Georgian outfit Chikhura Sachkhere in the second qualifying round.
The Dons would face a huge trip in the first leg on July 25 with the return leg at Pittodrie on August 1.
