Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes is confident his players will rise to the occasion in today’s Premiership crunch encounter against Celtic at Pittodrie.
The Dons can move two points clear of the Hoops with a game in hand with victory against Ronny Deila’s men at lunchtime.
The pressure will be on the Dons to deliver in front of a sold-out Pittodrie but McInnes insists his players will take it in their stride.
He said: “We’ve done it in European games, in semi-finals and winning cup finals. Players know and buy into the pressure as Aberdeen players.
“They are fortunate to play for an Aberdeen team that can get sell out crowds, to have that expectation and demand. The players don’t look at that as something that will hinder them.
“They’ve shown they are past that and can use that to inspire us. Their efforts have made it a sellout – not the fact Celtic are coming.”
McInnes was quick to play down any suggestion that a win today would prove the Reds are genuine title contenders.
He said: “I am not too interested in sending out a message. But I am looking for improvement. If you look at the first five games, we have scored more and conceded less than the first five games last year.
“We’ve only conceded one goal all season and had four clean sheets before the international break.
“Improvement means a positive result on Saturday. We are looking to win the game. But we are looking to improve as we go along.
“You just want to have a competitive team. We’ve managed to put together a strong, talented squad that’s full of confidence and has a brilliant spirit.
“We can never compare the resources but we can be better in other aspects of the game. Hopefully, we can show that.”
The Aberdeen manager is delighted every single ticket for today’s top-of-the-table match has been snapped up by an enthusiastic and optimistic Aberdeen support.
He added: “We would have been more surprised if it hadn’t been a sellout. That tells its own story.
“When you win five out of five league games everyone expects a sellout and it’s great the supporters believe in this team the way myself and the staff do.
“It’s important to have that behind us.”
Mark Reynolds (shoulder) is the only absentee for the Dons.