As the countdown to the Betfred Cup semi-finals begins in earnest, Andrew Considine recognises he and his Aberdeen team-mates will need to produce a significantly better performance than they did in Saturday’s defeat to Hearts at Tynecastle if they are to eclipse Rangers in their tie at Hampden on Sunday.

At the beginning of each season since Derek McInnes arrived at Pittodrie to take the reins, the Dons manager has made it clear his priority is to win silverware.

But, aside from a League Cup triumph following a penalty shoot-out against Inverness Caledonian Thistle in 2014, there has been no need for Goddard’s polish in the club’s trophy room.

Sure, there have been near misses – semi-finals and finals – with Celtic beating the Dons in last year’s William Hill Scottish Cup final, but, with their recent form failing to match previous high standards, it is Rangers who are clear favourites to come through on Sunday.

“It's been great to be part of semi-finals and finals since the manager came in,” Considine said.

“But we could really do with getting to a final and lifting some silverware.

“These next few days are huge for us. I played maybe two or three semi-finals early in my career and, other than the League Cup four years ago, I've not won anything.

“It would be nice to have that day at Hampden and get our hands on something.”

The 31-year-old defender – and the Dons' longest-serving player – has had to fend-off challenges for the left-back place twice in recent years; first when Graeme Shinnie arrived from Inverness, and now with the loan signing of Max Lowe from Derby County.

Shinnie, Aberdeen’s captain, has now settled into a preferred role in the midfield, while Lowe is making a strong case to be first choice at left-back.

But the recent absence through suspension of centre-back Scott McKenna has afforded Considine the chance to move to his favourite position in the middle of the defence, though with his team-mate returning to action on Sunday, it leaves McInnes with a selection dilemma.

“It's up at the air at the minute,” Considine said, “but regardless of age or how long I've been here, I'm up for the fight.

“Of course, my contract is on my mind. It’s up at the end of this season.

“I'm far from old but when your contract runs down it is worrying. All I want to do is play because then I'm in the shop window. If it's not here then somewhere else.

"I've always said I want to stay here; I love playing here and would love for it to continue.

“It's down to me; if I'm consistent week in, week out, my stay will be longer than this season.

“This year I've felt the fittest I've ever been. When it came to doing the tests in pre-season, I scored a lot better than recent years.

“I feel I can run faster and run more. You see some players as they get older either fall off the bandwagon or keep going forever.

“If I have to play left-back for the rest of my career that's just the way it is, I can handle that. But I'd love to go and play centre-half somewhere.”