Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes believes today’s opponents Hamilton Accies deserve credit for continuing to defy the odds.
The Accies, now in their fourth consecutive season in the top flight, moved up to eighth spot last weekend with a 3-1 success at struggling Dundee.
New Douglas Park has not been a happy hunting ground for the Dons in recent seasons.
The Reds had won only one of their previous seven encounters there before Kenny McLean netted the only goal in a 1-0 win in August.
McInnes said: “I’ve been at Hamilton games and while they don’t have the biggest support they can let you know when things are not going their way.
“But Hamilton deserve huge credit for their perseverance and doggedness.
“They are everyone’s favourites to get relegated at the start of the season but they keep proving people wrong.
“For every manager who gets harshly treated and loses his job too early there are good examples – and Hamilton and Martin Canning are one.
“The board recognised the challenges ahead and showed stickability and you would not bet against Hamilton being a Scottish Premiership team again next season.
“That’s credit to how Hamilton operate as a club. They have aspirations and they have realism too.”
McInnes, meanwhile, says his side’s preparations for today’s match have been unaffected by the continuing speculation linking him with the vacant Rangers job.
He said: “The game is all about the fans but I spoke this time last week and answered the question, I spoke pre-match about it, I spoke post-match, I’m now speaking pre-match again.
“We are another week on but we don’t determine speculation. We can’t dictate what is written or said.
“For myself and the players, it’s always about being professional and working towards the next game. That’s exactly the way it’s been this week.
“This week has been absolutely as normal as every other week.
“We are used to dealing with speculation and so are the players.
“I always tell the players that if we’re getting slaughtered in the press or we’re getting praise that’s over the top, just focus on the next game.
“That’s the important thing and that’s what it’s all about.
“We don’t really concern ourselves too much with speculation, it has been a good week.
“The three lads getting into the Scotland squad (Kenny McLean, Ryan Christie and Graeme Shinnie) was fantastic, a great boost for them and for the club.
“I was very happy with the win over Ross County last week and we just want to keep that going against Hamilton now.”