A lot has changed since Ross County’s last meeting with the Dons.
The Staggies looked doomed to relegation to the Championship following their 4-0 reverse at Pittodrie in early February. It was a miserable afternoon for the Highlanders, compounded by an error-ridden performance from goalkeeper Toni Reguero, with the result leaving them six points adrift of St Mirren at the foot of the table.
With 24 games played, County had picked up just two wins. It was form that made it hard to believe there was any realistic chance of top-flight football remaining in Dingwall beyond its third season.
What followed in the subsequent weeks, however, was the making of Jim McIntyre’s revitalised side, with the Dons’ demolition proving to be the trigger that sparked what appeared an inconceivable change in fortunes.
A 3-2 win against bottom-of-the-table rivals Motherwell in the next game kick-started a run of 10 victories from their final 14 matches, which not only saw County escape relegation, as well as the play-off spot, but ultimately record a respectable ninth-placed finish.
It was a sensational finish to the season by any team’s standards, but even more so given the preceding form.
County are entitled to feel they have a bone to pick with the Reds, however.
They did not fare well in any of their meetings with Derek McInnes’ side last season, suffering a trio of defeats, and losing eight goals without reply.
Indeed, the Dons were the only side County failed to pick up a single point against last term. There was no shame in that, given how fine a season McInnes oversaw in the Granite City, leading his side to a comfortable second-placed finish having vied for top spot with Celtic for the most part.
It is virtually a new team the Dons will be facing this time around, though. Given the momentum with which County finished last season, allied with a bright start to the new campaign, McIntyre’s men are in a far better place to take on Aberdeen.
In Liam Boyce, the Staggies possess the Premiership’s form attacker. His record of 18 goals in his last 19 appearances for the club is hugely impressive, and he comes into this match in jubilant mood after helping Northern Ireland qualify for next summer’s European Championships in France.
Boyce’s record has been virtually synonymous with that of his team’s, as he initially struggled to make an impact having stepped up to full-time football following the move from Cliftonville last summer.
After being handed a rigorous fitness programme by McIntyre, he hit the goal trail at the tail end of last season with seven goals from his final seven games, and he has carried that seamlessly into the new campaign.
It has been no one-man effort however. Boyce has been given excellent service from wide players Michael Gardyne and Jonathan Franks, who have performed brilliantly so far this season.
McIntyre may also be tempted to unleash an unknown quantity in the form of ex-Dutch under-21 international Alex Schalk, who could make his debut against the Dons. The forward netted four goals for Go Ahead Eagles in the Eredivisie last season, and Staggies supporters will be intrigued to see how he fares in Scotland.
On the whole, McIntyre’s summer recruitment looks to have been successful, however the key to the Staggies’ good start has been in retaining the bulk of the side that served them so well last term. Gardyne and Jackson Irvine both signed permanently after successful loan spells, while Martin Woods also returned having initially left to join Shrewsbury Town.
In fact, the only player to depart against McIntyre’s will is set to come up against his former side on Friday. Paul Quinn was inspirational in captaining the Staggies to safety last season, and his success since joining the Dons has underlined the extent of County’s loss.
In replacement, a strong defensive partnership appears to be forming between new additions Andrew Davies and Chris Robertson, but there will be an enforced change between the sticks, with Gary Woods to be handed his first start after Scott Fox was ruled out for two months with damaged ankle ligaments.
Prior to last season, County had tended to prove a sticky opposition for the Dons, particularly in Dingwall, with last season’s 1-0 victory in November – courtesy of Quinn’s own goal in favour of his future club – handing the Reds their first win at Victoria Park at the fourth time of asking.
Both clubs come into the game looking to put a sore defeat behind them; Aberdeen were thrashed 5-1 by St Johnstone in their last outing, while County were defeated by Caley Thistle in the first Highland derby of the campaign.
One certainty though, is the Dons will face a County side eager to show the scale of their improvement since their last encounter with the Reds.