Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has warned his defenders they will have to be at their best if the Dons are to make it a hat-trick of wins against rivals Dundee at Pittodrie tomorrow night.
The Dons have defeated the Dark Blues 2-0 twice this season but Paul Hartley’s men have impressed since the turn of the year.
The Dens Park men followed up a 2-1 derby win against Dundee United by beating Partick Thistle 4-2 at the weekend, scoring four times in the opening 37 minutes at Firhill.
McInnes, who will be without the suspended Mark Reynolds, is well aware of the threat posed by Greg Stewart, Kane Hemmings and Gary Harkins, who all netted against the Maryhill Jags.
He said: “We know they can be a dangerous team.
“We have produced two strong performances against them already this season.
“Since Dundee came up from the Championship last year, they have been a very good team.
“Similar to ourselves, people are possibly looking for a bit more from them this season. It looks as though they will continue building this season.
“It was a great result for them against Partick Thistle as we know how difficult it can be to score against them.
“Celtic also found that same difficulty, so to score four goals in quick succession shows the attacking threat they possess.
“Partick have been one of the form teams in the league. For Dundee to go there and win so comfortably says everything about their level of performance.
“I watched the game this week and it was a really strong display.”
Adam Rooney has scored in four consecutive matches against Dundee, including last month’s 2-0 win at Dens Park when Niall McGinn was also on target.
Despite the arrival of loan goalkeeper Adam Collin from Rotherham United, Scott Brown is expected to remain in goal for the visit of Dundee to Pittodrie.
McInnes was delighted with the Englishman’s display in the 3-2 win against Ross County in his first appearance of the season.
He added: “I thought he was excellent.
“The spotlight was on him after everything that had been mentioned with Danny Ward leaving. But I couldn’t have been more pleased with how he dealt with that by playing as well as he did.
“He has shown that level of performance in the past so we shouldn’t be surprised by that.”