Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes reckons Friday’s match at Hamilton Accies could be the Dons’ toughest of their season to date.
Aberdeen are four points behind the surprise Scottish Premiership leaders, who beat Celtic 1-0 at Parkhead in their last outing before the international break.
Accies, whose New Douglas Park has an artificial playing surface, boast the best defensive record in the league and have lost only once in nine matches.
McInnes said: “Away to Hamilton is as tough a fixture as we can get, certainly with the way they are playing.
“Their pitch is something we need to be aware of. They are strong at home but we have proved we can win at home and away.
“We need to be ready to go there to battle and scrap and bring high levels of energy.
“Of all the matches we have had, including our matches in Europe, this is probably as tough a test as we have got.
“I think we have three brilliant games to look forward to this month.
“After Hamilton we play Motherwell the following Friday at Pittodrie, which we can’t wait for, and then we have the League Cup match against Hamilton Accies.
“That is a competition we want to do well in again. Being at home is a good draw but it will be another tough match.”
While McInnes expects a stern test against the Accies, the Aberdeen manager believes that with David Goodwillie and Adam Rooney in attack, his side boasts the firepower to break down Alex Neil’s men.
McInnes added: “David scored a very good header in our 3-2 win against Dundee – it was very like the ones Alan Shearer used to score.
“It was a good cross from Shay Logan but there was not a lot of pace on it, so he had to generate the power and he certainly did that.
“Both Adam and David are capable of doing that and we are in a fortunate position to have two forwards who expect to score and put that demand on themselves.
“There have been times we have looked very hot and difficult for teams to cope with. We just have to make sure that when our performances are like that we make the most of it.”