ABERDEEN will face Czech side Sigma Olomouc or Fram Reykjavik of Iceland in their first-ever UEFA Europa League fixture.
It has been confirmed that the Third Qualifying Round first leg will be played at Pittodrie on the 30th of July, with the return leg being played away from home on the 6th of August.
The first leg of the Second Qualifying Round tie between Sigma and Fram ended 1-1 on Thursday, with the Icelandic side having the advantage of the away goal going into next week's second leg.
Fellow proper Scottish clubs Falkirk and Motherwell will face Czech side Liberec and Steaua of Romania or Ujpest of Hungary respectively, if they make it through their Second Qualifying Round ties.
The Europa League has replaced the UEFA Cup for the 2009/10 season.
If the Dons make it over their tricky Third Qualifying Round hurdle, they are likely to be unseeded and may have to conquer a Euro giant to make the group stages — something that new boss Mark McGhee is keen to avoid.
He said: "If we got into the group stages it could have a major impact on the budget I've got. There's money to be made so at this stage so we want the easiest draws possible."
For an unbelievably in-depth look at the seeding procedure, how likely it is that AFC will be seeded in the Fourth Qualifying Round, which teams are seeded and unseeded, and who the Dons are likely to face, see CaddyCarhandle's brilliant threads on the Stand Free Messageboard:
http://boards.footymad.net/forum.php?tno=4&fid=27&sty=2&act=1&mid=2125601524&page=1
http://boards.footymad.net/forum.php?tno=4&fid=27&sty=2&act=1&mid=2125823500
