Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has warned his players they can’t afford a Europa League hangover tomorrow when struggling Kilmarnock visit Pittodrie.
The Rugby Park side slumped to a 4-0 defeat at home to Dundee last weekend and will be determined to bounce back from that setback against the Dons.
But McInnes’ men are also out to avenge a painful result after their 1-1 draw against Kairat Almaty that ended their Europa League campaign.
The Kazakhstan side will face French club Bordeaux in the play-off stages, while McInnes’ players will now turn their full attention to domestic football.
The Aberdeen manager said: “The players are disappointed but when the games come thick and fast you have got to be ready.
“You don’t want to be disappointed again.
“I am looking forward to the game and I am sure the players will be ready.
“There is a disappointment in going out of Europe but this is a chance for us to focus and concentrate on league football and that won’t do us any harm.
“We want to get off to a good start in the league campaign.
“Hopefully, we can get a similar outcome to last Sunday when we went down to Tannadice and found a way to win.
“We will freshen things up if we need to and we have the luxury of doing that in certain areas.
“I will judge how the players are feeling but it is important we try to bring an intensity to our play because when we do that we are a difficult side to contain.
“We want to make sure we respond to the disappointment of going out of the tournament by winning on Sunday.”
Aberdeen have won their last seven matches against Kilmarnock, including their most recent encounter when Cammy Smith headed home the winner in a 2-1 win at Rugby Park in April.
Dons manager McInnes believes Gary Locke’s side will have a point to prove after starting the season with such a heavy defeat.
He added: “That was a surprising result, not because Dundee won as they are a good team but the level of score at home was a surprise.
“We expect a response from Gary and his players. It will be a tough game but they will be expecting a response from us as well.”