Squad rotation will be the key to finishing the season strongly, according to Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes.
The Dons won only two of their final nine fixtures last season as they lost out on second place to Motherwell on the final day of the season when Craig Reid netted a controversial last-minute winner for the Steelmen at Pittodrie.
There seems little chance of the Dons squandering runners-up spot this time around, with McInnes’ men enjoying a 13-point cushion on third-placed Caley Thistle.
Victory against Dundee United will confirm a place in European competition next season, but the Aberdeen manager is likely to make more changes for this Saturday’s New Firm derby.
Midfielders Ryan Jack and Barry Robson and defender Ash Taylor were dropped to the bench for Sunday’s 2-1 win against Kilmarnock and McInnes intends to keep ringing the changes during the league run-in.
He said: “Our form in the final 10 games of last season did not replicate what we had shown previously.
“We only won three of our closing 10 matches and we had a few draws which impacted on us.
“However, not finishing second was dictated by a poor refereeing decision, that is a fact.
“Our form was not as convincing as it had been in the final 10 games.
“We are well aware of the need to finish the season strongly and that is what we are trying to do.
“Last season I stuck, by and large, with the same group of players who had gone through a hard season.
“There was a trust there that they could keep getting results.
“I do think there is a need to chop and change and keep freshening things up if I have that luxury.
“I can do that at the minute with most of the players fit and available and, if that remains the case, I will continue to do that from now until the end of the season.”
The Dons have lost only once in 19 matches in the Scottish Premiership and midfielder Niall McGinn remains confident his side can continue the impressive run.
The Northern Ireland international said: “We have been consistent and we just want to keep it going between now and the end of the season.
“The manager wants us to keep working hard and enjoying our football.
“We know it is going to be tough, but we want to win as many of our final six matches as we possibly can.”