ABERDEEN manager Derek McInnes believes his club can do Scottish football proud this afternoon in an Asian outpost when they face ambitious Kazakhstan side Kairat Almaty.

The Pittodrie side face a difficult task when they face Kairat in hot and humid Almaty – just 200 miles from the Chinese border – in a Europa League third qualifying round first leg.

But the Premiership runners-up certainly can't be accused of skimping on costs after forking out over £200,000 to fly in a jet regularly used by the likes of Manchester City, England and even the Saudi Arabian royal family to ensure the players could get some proper rest ahead of today's game.

They face a highly ambitious Kazakh side, who boast former Bayern Munich Champions League-winning defensive midfielder Anatoliy Tymoshchuk in their ranks. But McInnes' men already defeated tough opposition in the form of Croats Rijeka and if Aberdeen fail, it won't be through lack of preparation.

McInnes said: "There are no concerns about lack of sleep or anything. We landed at the same local time we usually do for European games.

"It was certainly a benefit having more room on the plane. Some players find it difficult to sleep on a plane regardless, but we have given ourselves every chance. The flight was not a problem at all. The majority of them slept and it was important to keep them on our time zones.

"Preparations are one thing but things are always thrown up in the games. We have to be ready regardless of the time difference or the travelling. The players are excited and up for the challenge, as we all are."

He believes his side are flying the flag for Scottish football. He added: "First and foremost we want to do well for our club but we’re well aware of the kickback from that. If clubs do well and we can play a part in the co-efficient getting better.

"Our first responsibility is to our club, our supporters and ourselves. But we know by doing well it will help us in future and hopefully other Scottish teams as well."

Ash Taylor, Aberdeen's commanding defender, praised the club for ensuring they arrived refreshed in the ninth largest country in the world. He said: "It was a long journey to get here, but the club have done brilliantly. I don't think it will take too much out of us because we have prepared right. We're trying to stay on our time and we all managed to get a good sleep on the plane because the club put on a good jet for us."

Kairat are managed by Vladimir Weiss who, 10 years ago this week, masterminded one of Celtic's darkest days when Gordon Strachan began his Parkhead management career with a 5-0 hammering at Artmedia Bratislava.

But Weiss – who will have to do without injured top-scorer Gerard Gohou and strike partner Sito Riera – insisted that game had no relevance.

He said: "That was a great night for Artmedia, but this is a different game. It’s impossible to compare football from 10 years ago to now. A lot has changed in the game but we are well aware of Scottish football tactics. We know what to expect from Aberdeen. It won’t be the same as when Celtic came to Bratislava."