Injury woe continues for Dons
Aberdeen could be without eight players for their Clydesdale Bank Premier League game against Inverness.
Isaac Osbourne is doubtful after limping out of the weekend win over Hibernian, while the match is likely to come too soon for Clark Robertson, Ryan Fraser and Gavin Rae to make their comebacks.
Gary Naysmith, Stephen Hughes, Ryan Jack and Rob Milsom remain on the sidelines ahead of the clash at Pittodrie.
Boss Craig Brown believes his side is up against it and said: "We've got a very difficult fixture. Even with our full strength squad Inverness constitutes a real challenge.
"They're playing very well, they have been to Glasgow and won at Ibrox and Celtic Park this season so another trophy would be a victory at Pittodrie. We intend to make sure they don't get that but it will be a hard game.
"We have a huge handicap with the number of injuries we currently have. We've got a possibility of 8 players being out.
"Clark Robertson, Ryan Fraser and Gavin Rae are still in the same situation as last week but it's highly unlikely that they'll be ready and now of course Isaac Osbourne is added to that.
"It would be great for the fans to find their team and our team at the top of this league.
"That would be my wish for them for Christmas but we've got to win to ensure that we're there and it will be a very difficult game."
Terry Butcher wants his to side forget their momentous win over Celtic at Parkhead.
Billy McKay's second-half strike against the champions was enough to give Caley their first league win at Celtic Park and Butcher's first victory as a manager in the east end of Glasgow.
However, next up are the second-placed Dons who can leapfrog Celtic at the top of the table with a win, albeit the Hoops would have two games in hand.
A win for the fifth-placed visitors could take them level on points with Neil Lennon's side but Butcher is looking only at getting his players in the right frame of mind.
He said: "We are looking forward to the Aberdeen game now and we want to make sure all those thoughts about Celtic have gone.
"It is nice to think back about Celtic and what we have achieved but that's history now.
"Sometimes when you have a big match against someone like Aberdeen at Pittodrie very quickly you have to re-focus very quickly and make sure that you give the match 100% concentration.
"It is a top-of-the-table clash again, Aberdeen are going well, they have had certainly had some great results and scored some goals as well.
"It is very impressive how Aberdeen have changed their fortunes round, the same as Hibs.
"It is a great challenge and a great test to go through there.
"What we have done is pretty impressive but now it is a case of rolling up our sleeves and doing the job that we have been doing virtually all season.
"But in saying that, we won there with 10 men last year, we have won there before so we want to make good memories this week.
Ross Draper (ankle) and Ryan Esson (hip) are back in training for Inverness.
Nick Ross (shoulder) is back but not taking part in full contact training while Simon King is about to start training after his ankle injury.
Chris Hogg remains out with a knee injury.
Source: PA
