Lewis Ferguson and Sam Cosgrove got the goals as Aberdeen booked their place in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup with a 2-0 win at St Mirren.
But the victory may have come at a cost for the Dons, and for Scotland ahead of their Nations League semi-final against Israel at the end of March after defender Scott McKenna suffered a hamstring strain in Paisley.
Dons boss Derek McInnes made two changes from the side which lost 2-1 to Ross County at Pittodrie a week ago with Connor McLennan missing out while Sam Cosgrove dropped to the bench. Fit-again Funso Ojo returned in midfield while Matty Kennedy was the other replacement.
Saints boss Jim Goodwin named the same line-up which beat Motherwell 2-1 at Fir Park in midweek.
The Dons had left it late to book their place in the quarter-final with an injury-time winner in extra-time at Kilmarnock in the fifth round but they carried on where they left off at Rugby Park by sweeping into an early lead.
There was just seven minutes on the clock when Kennedy found Lewis Ferguson and the midfielder drove forward before firing a superb rising drive past Vaclav Hladky from the edge of the box to put his side ahead.
Conditions inside the stadium were atrocious with the driving rain making fools of players at times as they struggled to keep their footing and it was no surprise that neither goalkeeper was tested before the interval.
The Dons suffered a blow at the start of the second half when Scott McKenna suffered a hamstring tear.
Curtis Main thought he had extended Aberdeen’s lead when he headed a Kennedy cross into the net but his effort was disallowed for offside.
Saints responded with Jamie McGrath effort which Joe Lewis palmed away and that was as close as the home side came.
The Dons booked their place in the semi-final in stoppage time when substitute Sam Cosgrove was tripped in the box by Saints captain Sam Foley to earn his side a penalty.
The striker dusted himself down before scoring the spot kick for his 23rd goal of the season.