ABERDEEN manager Derek McInnes hopes some added European experience can help them go one better when they face Apollon Limassol.

The Dons host the Cypriots in the Europa League tomorrow in the third qualifying round, the same stage they have exited the tournament for the past three seasons.

A 5-2 aggregate loss by Real Sociedad was followed by one-goal defeats to Kairat Almaty and Maribor after Aberdeen fell behind in 1-1 draws at Pittodrie on both occasions.

And McInnes is looking for a more wily performance from his rebuilt side this season.

“I feel the Real Sociedad one was one where it was clear they were a good bit ahead of us, and I say that with the greatest of respect for my team,” he said.

“But over the two ties, although we got in front here and made them think it might just go our way, I always felt they had the quality, if they stepped up, to put us to bed.

“The Almaty and Maribor games, I felt were in the balance and there’s an argument to say it was harsh that we went out against the two of them, because our performances were more than decent.

“But what we found was losing that goal at home proved crucial in the tie and it was fine lines.

“When it comes to these fine lines, hopefully we just do enough to edge through.

“I expect it to be a close and tough game and it will be fine margins.

“Hopefully with the experience we have had with previous ties, we can find a way to get the job done.

“What we have learned through European campaigns, it’s over two legs, and we are comfortable on the road.

“But we want to use the fact that it will be a sell-out and use that home advantage.”

McInnes has warned of Apollon’s goal threat after watching footage of their 5-1 aggregate win over Moldovans Zaria Balti in the previous round. The Dons boss felt they could easily have scored six rather than just the three in their home leg.

Apollon lost at this stage on their most recent European campaign two seasons ago but beat Trakai, St Johnstone’s conquerors this season, 4-0 in the second round and qualified for the group stages in each of the previous two seasons.

McInnes said: “They are very positive with their approach. We are well aware of their attacking threats and qualities as a team and we will have to be fully concentrated because of that.”

Aberdeen could hand a debut to a man who has faced Apollon recently, with Iceland international Kari Arnason added to a fully-fit squad following his move from Omonia Nicosia.

McInnes said: “We are not too dependent on finding too much about them from Kari, but we have spoken to him and he has reiterated and reinforced a lot of things we felt about them and how he felt about playing them.

“We have a good handle on them, we have watched them often enough and got footage on their pre-season games and their last tie.

“But it won’t do any harm that Kari knows a bit about them.”