Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes is ready to rest key players for the final two games of the season for fear of losing them to injury ahead of the Scottish Cup final.
The Dons, beaten 3-1 by Scottish Premiership champions Celtic on Friday, take on Rangers at Ibrox on Wednesday before ending the campaign at Partick Thistle on Sunday.
They will travel to Glasgow midweek without Ireland international Jonny Hayes who is suspended, while Ryan Jack (groin) and Peter Pawlett (Achilles) remain on the sidelines.
McInnes will have midfielder Ryan Christie back after he was ineligible to face his parent club on Friday evening and expects to make alterations to face Pedro Caixinha’s team.
He said: “We have got a few things to consider, but the priority is the Scottish Cup final.
“We want to go down to Ibrox and get a result, but we have to go down to Glasgow three times in our final three games over the next fortnight.
“While the other two games are important, the most important is the cup final.
“We need to make sure we are in tip-top shape for that.
“We can’t pick up any more injuries with Ryan Jack and Peter Pawlett doubtful for the cup final as things stand.
“We can’t risk any more injuries. The result against Celtic on Friday was disappointing, but I feel there was still a lot to be confident about going into the final.”
That means Dean Campbell, who became the youngest player in Aberdeen’s history when he replaced Niall McGinn in added time on Friday, could be involved again.
The midfielder, who sat an English exam at Hazlehead Academy earlier in the day, made his debut at the age of 16 years one month and 23 days, breaking the previous record held by former midfielder Jack Grimmer since 2010 by more than a month.
McInnes added: “We feel it will be the first of many. We have a high regard for Dean and Seb Ross, who was also on the bench and is only 17.
“There are a few at that age we would like to fast-track. Dean will start full-time in the summer.
“He was at school during the day and playing against Celtic at night, which was a good story, but I think there is a better story ahead for him.
“He needs to keep the work ethic that has got him to this stage.
“He is a fantastic kid. It will have been a proud moment for his parents, but there may well be more of them.”