GOALKEEPER Dino Hamzic reckons Chikhura Sachkhere can use home advantage to take control of their tie against Aberdeen - despite the game taking place more than 100 miles from their own stadium.
The Georgian outfit ordinarily play their matches at the 2000-capacity Central Stadium in the small town of Sachkhere.
However, the modest ground is not up to scratch for Europa League football.
Chikhura have moved their continental clashes to the country’s national stadium in Tblis - the mammoth Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena - which is a two-and-a-half hour drive from Sachkhere.
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Hamzic readily admits that Aberdeen are the favourites to progress but, while Chikhura are likely to be sparsely supported inside the 55,000 all-seater stadium, the experienced stopper believes the Dons may wilt on their trip to the Georgian capital.
They have already seen off Luxembourg minnows Fola Esch 4-2 on aggregate.
The 31-year-old said: “Aberdeen are a historic club and they are the favourites in this tie but we approach the fixture with belief.
“We have strength when we play in our own country, in front of our own fans and we want to give everyone the right result.
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“The main thing is to have a good strategy, play our own game and fight until the end. We will do that and try to get a positive result to take to Scotland a week later.
“Fola Esch are not a team we should be losing to and we were by far the stronger team in both matches. We dominated the games and imposed our style - but we know Aberdeen will be much more difficult opponents.”
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