As banana skins go, the one on which Aberdeen slipped a year ago when they tumbled out of the CIS Cup to Queen's Park proved treacherous.

Penalty kicks took the Glasgow side, then in the third division, into the next stage after a penalty shoot-out of the competition and left a dark cloud hanging over the Pittodrie outfit for many months afterwards.

That drama took place at Firhill and the club return there tomorrow night for a CIS Cup encounter with Partick Thistle with Jimmy Calderwood, the Pittodrie manager, praying there will be no more bloomers from his team.

It was a message echoed by Willie Miller, Aberdeen's director of football, who stated the club cannot even contemplate failure at Firhill.

"The result against Queen's Park," he said, "sent shockwaves throughout Scottish football and placed the whole team under pressure though they did recover to finish third in the league. It won't be easy against Thistle but we have to look to go on some sort of cup run this term."

Calderwood has a number of potential injury problems to contend with and is hoping that, following their defeat against Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday, his squad will contain enough fit bodies from which to choose a team to see off the Maryhill side.

"Every game is a must-win game at this club," said Calderwood yesterday. "It would give the lads a lot of confidence to reach the quarter-finals which we haven't done often enough which isn't good enough for a club of our size.

"It's a great chance for us to get there and it doesn't matter how our league form is going, by hook or by crook, we've got to get into the next round. We know how tough it is going to be but that's when real professionals stand up."

Aberdeen will probably be without Andrew Considine, their young centre-back, for the game. He is suffering from a virus which, the manager said, he was having difficulty shaking off while Jamie Smith (rib injury) and Chris Clark (Achilles tendon problem) are both major doubts. Lee Mair and Jeffrey de Visscher may come into contention for places.

"We have had a terrible run of results," he added, "and this is a chance to reach the quarter-finals of a major cup competition.

"It's another tournament and it takes us away from the grind of the league but you want to be involved in everything."