Derek McInnes is prepared for another stern physical challenge this evening when Aberdeen face Daugava Riga in the Europa League.
Daugava kicked and brawled their way throughout the 90 minutes at Pittodrie last Thursday evening and McInnes has warned his side will have to be on their mettle in the Daugava Stadium this evening.
Midfielder Peter Pawlett did not travel with the squad after failing to recover from his ankle injury and McInnes said: “We have to be as professional as we can be, get in, get out with the job done and if we can get a positive result then good.
“We are in a very positive position at the moment but there is work to be done.
“All it takes is for one or two of our players to think the job is done and then it could make for a very uncomfortable evening for us. We have to keep our discipline because the games can turn if we don’t.
“We need a good night’s work.”
This will be Aberdeen’s fifth game since returning for pre-season and with the start of the Scottish Premiership season next month, McInnes is likely to retain most of the players who started last week’s 5-0 victory against the Latvians.
He added: “I am conscious of the need to give the players a run, Peter will not be playing but I would not think there would be many other changes.”