Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has warned his players they should underestimate out-of-form Dundee United at their peril.
Jackie McNamara’s Tangerines had not won in the Scottish Premiership since January before last week’s 1-0 victory against struggling Hamilton Accies.
But United have had the edge over the Dons this season with a 3-0 win at Pittodrie on the opening day of the season and a 2-1 success in the League Cup semi-final.
McInnes, whose Reds can confirm a place in Europe next season if they avoid defeat this afternoon, said: “Dundee United still have the potential to finish having had a decent campaign.
“You wouldn’t have expected them to go so long without winning a game.
“The Celtic games maybe took a bit out of them in terms of confidence but I still think they’re a good team.
“They have good players and the team they’ll play against us on Saturday will be a familiar one.
“A lot has been made of losing the players they did (Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong) and they have gone on to show how important they are for Celtic, never mind Dundee United.
“In an ideal world Jackie would have wanted to keep them until the end of the season at least. But it’s not just about them.
“They brought four players in and, although until now they have not been able to show the same form they did in the first half of the season, they can still do that.
“I still think they can have a good campaign.
“We have always had tough matches against them, they have beaten us this season.
“So, it will be a competitive game this weekend.”
Dons captain Russell Anderson stepped up his comeback from long-term injury by featuring for the under-20 side against Hamilton on Tuesday.
The 36-year-old has not played a competitive match for the first team since August because of a knee injury and McInnes says the defender will not be included in the squad to face United.
He said: “Russell played a reserve game for an hour during the week but I don’t expect him to be in the squad for a few weeks. We’ll need to be careful with him.
“Everyone else is fine and ready to go.”