Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes is counting on the fierce competition for places in his team.
The Dons have bounced back from the disappointment of exiting the Europa League at the hands of Cypriot club Apollon Limassol by winning the opening three games in the Premiership and Betfred Cup.
McInnes was pleased with the determination on display at Ross County on Saturday and said: “There’s not a lot between us and other teams. We’ve got good quality players, but we know we need to earn the right to take part in the game. When we go to places such as Dingwall and they ask questions of us, we’ve got to stand up to it.
“Sometimes it comes down to that bit of quality or the ability to change things.
“Sometimes it comes down to having a determination to make sure the game goes our way.
“We spoke about that at half time on Saturday and it was evident for the winning goal from Shay Logan.”
Saturday’s win at County was the fourth game in nine days and while the schedule has made for a testing start McInnes wants his players to continue to give him tough selection decisions.
Midfielders Ryan Christie and Scott Wright dropped to the bench on Saturday and McInnes said: “I pick the team, but the players can pick the team as well through their performances.
“I have options and as it was our fourth game in such a short space of time it was nice to have those options.
“We go into a normal working week now ahead of the Dundee game at Pittodrie on Saturday so I will have decisions to make, but it is performances, predominantly, that will decide who plays.
“I look at training and I look at the opposition and the best way to go.
“It’s good I’ve got options to try to pick the right team.”
Adam Rooney, leading goalscorer for the last three seasons, was also on the bench as McInnes handed new signing Stevie May a debut.
Despite failing to score May made a strong impression on his manager who added: “Stevie May had a brilliant debut bar scoring.
“He will be disappointed, but he will get there and he will be better for having played the County game.
“He showed exactly what he’s going to be for us and he was terrific with the ball being played either into feet or in behind the defence, as well as his work-rate considering he’s not had a lot of competitive football.”