Aberdeen enjoyed two contrasting experiences at Hamilton last season and manager Derek McInnes is anticipating another action-packed encounter on Sunday.
The Dons were beaten 3-0 at New Douglas Park last October after a lacklustre display but won by the same scoreline in February in a highly controversial match in which referee Willie Collum disallowed three Dons goals, including one strike from Adam Rooney that was a yard over the goalline.
Collum will be the man in the middle again this weekend but McInnes is expecting a much sterner test against Accies.
Many were tipping Hamilton as relegation candidates after their poor end to last season but Martin Canning’s men have made a strong start to the new campaign, sitting inside the top six after 14 matches.
McInnes said: “I was surprised people were tipping them for relegation. They have got good players and they always have a real competitive edge to their game. They are hard-working, commit players forward and have good pace in their side.
“We have got to be ready for them. We have had some good results against them recently but we have had to work hard for them.
“We had a disappointing result down there last year when they thoroughly deserved their victory.
“I am not surprised they have started the season strongly as it is always a difficult match against them.”
McInnes revealed the Dons have adjusted their training schedule this weekend to prepare for playing on the artificial surface at New Douglas Park.
He added: “We have trained on an artificial surface a couple of times this week. We don’t want to over-train on it. Every artificial pitch is different, so you don’t really get that consistency.
“I was at the Celtic game at Hamilton and I thought a lot of players were slipping on the surface but we just have to adjust it.
“We can’t go there and be too hung up on a pitch.
“It is the same as any game, we have to concentrate on our performance. That is what will depend if we win or lose the game – not the pitch.”