Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes is confident his players are ready for their crucial run of matches which will shape the club’s campaign.
December could be a defining month for the Dons with matches against three of the four teams above them in the Scottish Premiership – Hamilton, Dundee United and Caley Thistle – and seventh-placed Kilmarnock.
After his side’s Scottish Cup exit at Dundee last week, the Dons manager is eager to switch his players’ focus on to league duty and he knows the remaining matches of 2014 are all crucial for his club.
He said: “We’re disappointed at going out of the cup but we cannot dwell on it. Even if we had won the game the next challenge is ahead of us and it has always been that way here.
“We’re back to league business with four very important games left this year against teams around us.
“The first of those four games is Hamilton and it is important we are focused on that now.
“The ambitions are the same as they were at the start of the season. We set out looking to do well in the cups and improve on our last league campaign.
“Our points tally is better than it was at this stage last season and we want to improve on that. Where it takes us remains to be seen. But certainly some positive results in the next few weeks will help.”
The Dons are ahead of last season’s points tally, by two points, and, while pleased with the improvement, the manager knows bettering the previous campaign will be a major task in what is shaping up to be a very competitive top flight.
He said: “Last year at this stage there was not just us and Motherwell. Dundee United and Inverness were there as well.
“This year the league is certainly tighter and there are some teams in good form at the minute. But we have to look at our own form and try to bring a performance every week.
“We saw a strong Accies team when we played there but they met a strong Aberdeen team when they came here and it is important they see that team again on Saturday.”
Barry Robson, who has missed the last two matches with a hip injury, could return for the visit of Accies.