Aberdeen boss Barry Robson led his side to a massive upturn in form and earned third place in the Scottish Premiership.
For Robson and the Dons players it's all eyes on Hampden on Saturday as they wait for their European path to become clearer – with a Celtic victory over Inverness Caley Thistle at the national guaranteeing Aberdeen a Europa League playoff spot. Ange Postecoglou's side completing the Treble would mean that group stage football is a certainty for the club next term – with Conference League games the minimum on the agenda for supporters in the Granite City.
However, fans will want to go into Europe's second tier competition and rub shoulders with some of the biggest clubs on the continent with the path becoming clear for Robson's men. Aberdeen go into Pot 1 of the playoff draw alongside the likes of Ajax, with three of the top seeded clubs being paired with the three teams who are in Pot 4.
In Pot 4, Slavia Prague and Olympiakos stand out as ties that would be best avoided in a bid to reach the group stage. They are joined by Swiss minnows Lugano in the seeding – a draw which most Dons fans would relish in a two-legged shoot-out for the group stage.
Should Aberdeen not come out of the hat against a Pot 4 club, they will then be draw against a side in Pot 3. Kazakhstan champions and regulars in Europe during recent campaigns FC Astana look to be standouts of the third seeds.
They are joined by Maccabi Haifa, Lithuanian side Zalgiris Vilnius, Finnish outfit HJK Helsinki and Estonian side Flora Tallin. The dream scenario could be on the cards for Robson should he avoid the two heavy-hitters when the draw takes place – and if Celtic can do the Pittodrie men a favour by lifting the Scottish Cup.
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