Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes believes the Dons will need to win three of their final four games to finish second – and fears even that may not be enough.
The Dons can move three points clear of Rangers in the race to finish best of the rest with a victory against Hearts at Pittodrie this evening.
McInnes’s side still have Hibernian, Rangers and Celtic left to play and the Dons manager believes nine points from a possible 12 should be enough to clinch a fourth successive runners-up spot in the Scottish Premiership.
He said: “What will it take to finish second? I think it will take us winning at least three of our last four games and maybe even more, you never know.
“But three out of the next four, depending who they are against.”
On the three-way contest between Rangers, Hibernian and the Dons, McInnes added: “We are all capable of being good teams. We have shown that over the course of the season.
“None of the three of us have been quite good enough to challenge Celtic properly for the title but I always felt there was not a lot in it between us, Rangers and Hibs.
“I also felt Hearts might have made a better fist of it this season and been up there.
“But the three of us winning last week allowed the excitement to build for the next round of games.
“This round of fixtures is even more important and if we can win then the next round of fixtures is even more important.
“We know that winning games is the only way to get the second spot that we are so eager to retain.
“That’s what our intention is – to be as positive as we can and to win as many games as we can.”
The Dons welcome back Andrew Considine (suspension) and Niall McGinn (groin injury) for the visit of Craig Levein’s side tonight but Chidi Nwakali’s season may be over following the ankle injury he sustained in the 3-0 Scottish Cup semi-final defeat by Motherwell.
McInnes remains optimistic January signing Michael Devlin could return from a knee injury to make his Dons debut before the end of the campaign.
He added: “He has trained all week. We will look to try to get him playing in an under-20s game next week.”