Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has warned his players they must be ready for a Motherwell side travelling north with a point to prove.
The Dons thumped the Steelmen 7-2 at Pittodrie last month in one of Mark McGhee’s final matches in charge of the Fir Park club before being sacked.
Motherwell caretaker Stephen Robinson helped lead the team to an important 2-1 victory at Kilmarnock last Saturday that moved them five points clear of bottom-of-the-league Caley Thistle.
McInnes believes today’s opponents will be determined to make amends after suffering such a heavy defeat in Aberdeen three weeks ago.
He said: “Motherwell will have an added motivation after the last game here.
“They will want to do better than they did the last time and I’m sure they will.
“There were a lot of individual errors in the game and our attacking work was very good that day.
“Motherwell are better than what they showed that night, so I think it will be far closer.
“They got a good win last week and will be doing all they can for Stephen to get the job if he wants it.
“They will change their shape and there are different players in the team. Every game is different but we just want the same outcome – three points.
“There are so few league games left, so you just have to hammer home every opportunity that comes along.
“We have been very strong at home this season and hopefully we can continue that.”
Andrew Considine will miss today’s match through suspension, while Mark Reynolds is set for at least a month on the sidelines following a hernia operation.
That means Irishman Anthony O’Connor is likely to make his first start in defence since December’s 2-1 defeat by Ross County in Dingwall.
McInnes added: “Anthony has been patient, he’s come off the bench to help us see out games.
“He’s eager to play more, so he may well have an opportunity on Saturday to stake a claim.
“Ryan Jack is back training, which is a bonus and Jayden Stockley’s shoulder is fine.”
