Aberdeen’s players will put their title hopes on the line tonight against champions Celtic at Pittodrie in a game which will have huge ramifications for both clubs.
Victory for the Dons would move them to within three points of the beleaguered Hoops, who are still coming to terms with their dreams of a domestic treble being dashed by Sunday’s defeat to Ross County in the League Cup semi-final.
Another loss would add more fuel to an ever-increasing fire surrounding Celtic manager Ronny Deila, whose future is once again being questioned by his doubting support.
Defeat for Aberdeen, however, would give Celtic a nine-point margin which could be insurmountable for the chasing pack.
Aberdeen have put together a 10-game unbeaten run since they last lost to the Hoops on October 31. The reward? They are one point closer today than they were three months ago.
It would be fanciful to suggest a nine-point gap could be bridged.
Possible of course but unlikely.
The pressure is immense but Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes and his players are in confident mood.
A man well known for perusing statistics, McInnes knows where opportunities will present themselves for his side tonight.
The Dons manager said: “What’s clear is Celtic, when they are in full swing, are still a really tough team to keep hold of and restrict.
“While they have found scoring goals to be fine this season, as they normally do, they have conceded far more than in previous seasons.
“They have already conceded two more (19) in the league than they did in the whole campaign last year. They have let in 40 goals in all competition, so that would suggest there is an area there they haven’t been as tight in.
“Jason Denayer and Virgil van Dijk was as strong a central defensive pairing as the league has seen for many years. The fact they have conceded more goals than they normally do may be a reason why they may seem a bit more vulnerable.
“Their results have been good of late, up to the League Cup semi-final, and they have scored plenty of goals. They are on a good run and they are a good side, but we are confident we can create problems for Celtic with our attacking play.”
McInnes would never set himself up for a fall by proclaiming the Hoops are there for the taking or that his Dons side is the team primed to take advantage.
But the Dons are the only hope of a challenge, and as long as that is the case it is a burden Aberdeen must carry.
McInnes knows it and so do his players, and they are not about to shy away from the task.
It’s time to dare to dream and dream big.
The Aberdeen manager said: “The game is something that we are all relishing and looking forward to. It will be a sell-out and that provides an added ingredient along with live television coverage against a team that always represents the toughest challenge for any team in this league.
“It is an opportunity for us to try to beat a team close to us in the league.
“Wherever a club is in the league, it is important to try to inflict damage on the teams around about. We have managed to win two out of two against Hearts in the league and we are going to try to get our second win against Celtic.
“The benefit of that would be clear to see. We will try to do that, as tough a task as it is. We take confidence from the fact we are in good form and have beaten them already this season with 10 men. With a strong crowd behind us, we will try to do that again.”