Derek McInnes would love to bring cup success back to Rugby Park.
It has been over 10 years since the Ayrshire side played at Hampden, and the Rugby Park boss would revel in being the gaffer who returns the club to the national stadium.
Not since Dieter Van Tornhout bagged a famous winner against Celtic in 2012 have Kilmarnock graced that hallowed turf, and it won’t be easy returning as they must defeat red-hot Hearts at Tynecastle tonight (Wednesday) in the Premier Sports Cup last 16.
McInnes said: “I don’t think the cup has been great for the club in recent years. You see other clubs of a similar size and even a lesser size who can go all the way and win cups.
“Kilmarnock have a history of winning cups in the past but recently there’s not been enough of that.
“Our priority will always be to make sure we are still a Premiership club next season. But I’m trying to get us to play cup football through the league campaign so every game feels like a cup tie.
“It’s just another cup tie for us and we want to make sure we get into the next round.”
Having won this competition back in 2014, it still holds a dear place is McInnes’ heart.
He said: “Winning the League Cup was massive for Aberdeen having not won a trophy for so long. There were 43,000 fans at Celtic Park that day which showed the need and quench for that success.
“The couple of promotions I’ve had are special too.
“As a manager sometimes success isn’t always in the form of trophies but certainly that’s what supporters want. And players and managers are the same wanting those special days.
“Hopefully we are not finished yet. I firmly believe a club like Kilmarnock can get to Hampden, we are only two games away from Hampden and that’s the way we have to look at it.”
Away from the match, McInnes is gearing up for a busy few days ahead of Thursday night's transfer deadline.
He said: “We are working hard to get someone in the door.
“It’s non stop. We are looking at a few things and have a few plates spinning at the moment, the board have been really supportive.
“No matter what level you’re working at strikers are at a premium at the minute. Some clubs with three or four are holding onto them for a reason.
“They’re hard to get and if you can’t get better then you need to get something different.
“I have belief in what we’ve got here but I also believe that for us to be more potent and have a different dynamic then we need to get someone in who’s going to help us and a bit different.
“I’m hoping we could announce someone now. But clubs are hedging their bets and it’s always a mad scramble the last day or two.
“We are hopeful we can make that signing.”
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