Inverurie Locos manager Andy Low hopes his decision to rotate his squad can pay dividends when they welcome Aberdeen to Harlaw Park for their Aberdeenshire Shield quarter-final tonight.
The young Dons head to Locos having beaten a young Cove Rangers side 5-0 last week but they face an experienced Inverurie team in confident mood after joining Brora Rangers at the top of the Highland League.
Low said: “I’ve tried to use the squad evenly in recent games as we have a lot of quality here but it’s important to get the balance of game time right so that when players are called on to come into the starting 11 they can make an impact.
“We’ve been utilising the squad with that in mind by mixing it up but we know we are going to face a tough game against Aberdeen.
“When you play Aberdeen you can probably name eight of their starting 11 but those last three places can be filled up with first-team players who are getting a run-out as they haven’t played at the weekend or they need minutes are they are coming back from injury.
“We know whoever we face it is going to be a very difficult game and we’re going to have to be switched on. Technically they will be good and they will be fit so tactically we have to be spot-on in how we play.”
Tonight’s cup tie is the first of three cup matches in a row for Locos with Inverurie facing Formartine United in the Highland League Cup before they host Broxburn Athletic in the third round of the Scottish Cup.
Low believes his side should go into the three games with confidence.
He said: “It’s been great so far.
“We had one slip against Wick but I said after the game they deserved their win and our performance wasn’t up to the levels we are capable of but the response has been fantastic and we’re in a good place as we head into three difficult cup matches.”