As much as it pains us to remind Aberdeen fans, their club haven't won the Scottish Cup for a mammoth 27 years. When you consider that they're one of the biggest sides in the country, you'd really expect them to have a better record than that in the competition.

Since then they've had to endure two finals and, incredibly, six semi-finals - heartbreak. It's been a competition supporters have come to expect the worst in, but this year they have as good a shot as any since that win in 1990.

Having already seen off Stranraer in the Fourth Round, they now face a tricky trip to Dingwall to face Ross County on Saturday in their attempt to book a quarter-final place.

Get past that one and they're only three wins away from glory.

Here are THREE reasons why this year is the Dons' turn to lift the prestigious trophy...

They've already been to Hampden this season

Britain Football Soccer - Aberdeen v Celtic - Scottish League Cup Final - Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland - 27/11/16 Celtic's James Forrest and Aberdeen's Kenny McLean  Action Images via Reuters / Jason Cairnduff Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.  Please contact your account re

Aberdeen have already been on a mighty cup run this season, making it all the way to the Scottish League Cup final in November. While they let themselves down that day against Celtic, never really showing up in a 3-0 defeat, it shows that they are more than capable of booking themselves a Hampden showpiece date.

That should give them confidence heading into each round of this competition, knowing that they've got the quality to get themselves through tough knock-out ties.

If they can get through to another final then anything can happen, even against Celtic. Derek McInnes has won a trophy with the Dons after all, lifting the Scottish League Cup back in 2014 against Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

They're still the second best team in Scotland

Britain Soccer Football - Aberdeen v Greenock Morton - Scottish League Cup Semi Final - Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland - 22/10/16
Aberdeen's James Maddison and Greenock Morton's Jai Quitongo in action
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Despite all the huffing and puffing of Mark Warburton's Rangers, Aberdeen remain the second best side in Scotland at this moment in time.

Currently second in the Scottish Premiership, with a vastly superior goal difference and a game in hand, they've proven that their challenge to Celtic over the last few years wasn't simply because there was no Rangers in the league.

They are more than a match for any side on their day and, apart from Celtic, have beaten every side in the top six so far this season.

Celtic are undoubtedly the biggest threat to their cup chances but they'll know they can get the job done against them too. Their last meeting with the Hoops in the Scottish Cup ended in a 2-1 victory for McInnes' side at Celtic Park.

They're hitting peak form

Britain Soccer Football - Aberdeen v Greenock Morton - Scottish League Cup Semi Final - Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland - 22/10/16
Aberdeen's Adam Rooney celebrates scoring his sides first goal with Graeme Shinnie
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Aberdeen are in their best form of the season right now, perfect timing for a late season cup run. They've won six of their last seven games with only a narrow 1-0 defeat at Celtic Park a blot on their record.

They suffered a difficult December but have put that inconsistency behind them to really show they'll be contenders for silverware at the end of the season.

They've only conceded one goal in 2017 so far and if they can keep that up then who's to say this can't be the year the finally lift the trophy that Dons fans have been dreaming of for 27 years?