Dumbarton manager Stevie Aitken is leaning on the experience of playing against the likes of Rangers and Hibs as he gears up to face Dundee in the Scottish Cup.

Aitken is relishing the prospect of pitting his wits against Premiership opposition, but he says it won’t phase his players after going up against the giants of the Championship already this season.

He said: “We have that experience this year which is good, but the most important thing is that you go into the game with the team playing well.

“We are in good form, and even although Dundee will rightly be favourites and we know it is going to be difficult, we’re really looking forward to the game.

“There’s a real excitement around when you play in the Scottish Cup, and there’s a place in the quarter finals at stake. We’ll be giving it our best shot.

“I think playing these teams helps because we’ve had the experience of playing them home and away, and we know how to handle it.

“All the pressure is on Dundee because they’re the team that people are expecting to win – and rightly so.

“We’ve had that all season, we go into most matches as the underdogs but we don’t mind that tag, we respond to it.

“There is a belief in the dressing room that we can win the game, and we always have that no matter who we play.

“The majority of our players have played at a high level and they won’t be phased by Dundee at all.

“We’ve had two tough ties already to get here, so it’s already a great achievement.

“We’ve got an opportunity now, it’s all set up to be an exciting day and it’s building up to be a great occasion.”

Aitken is tempted to throw in new signing Christian Nade against his former club, particularly as he has a point to prove after being released by the Dens Park club.

“We were delighted to get Christian,” he said.

“He was one of our top targets in the summer and we were chasing him again for five or six weeks there.

“He’s a very positive guy and he’s played at a good level all his days, and now he has added that wee bit of determination as well that he maybe didn’t always have.

“He’s in great shape, and credit to him for that.

“When you’ve had a bit of stick somewhere or been released then that can fire you up to prove people wrong, and he’s definitely in our plans for the game.”