Craig Moore to miss out for Ayr
Ayr will be without Craig Moore when they host Aberdeen as the on-loan Motherwell man continues to be absent with a head knock.
Kevin Nesbit, who has joined on loan from Partick, is cup-tied, with manager Ian McCall working on bringing in a new signing before kick-off.
McCall said: "I know the Aberdeen management team very well as Derek McInnes was my captain at Dundee United and his assistant Tony Docherty my coach. They have built a strong team at Aberdeen and we are massive underdogs to go through.
"But we are in a similar position in all our games this season so it will not put us off."
Meanwhile, Aberdeen boss McInnes is relieved he is not having to fend off raids for his top performers like some of his SPFL counterparts.
Hibernian boss Neil Lennon, Kilmarnock's Lee Clark and Motherwell manager Mark McGhee have all been forced to respond to offers for their main striking options in recent days.
Easter Road frontman Jason Cummings has been linked with a B#1.7million move to Peterborough while Killie forward Josh Magennis and Motherwell hitman Marvin Johnson are being targeted by Charlton and Brighton.
But so far McInnes' phone has been quiet, despite the likes of Adam Rooney, Niall McGinn and Johnny Hayes putting in some stand-out displays in recent months.
However, that is just the way the Pittodrie boss likes it.
He told RedTV: "There's been a few enquires about loans for the younger lads but we haven't had anyone put in a bid to buy anyone so far.
"I'm more pleased than surprised. I'm trying to build a team and the likes of Adam, Johnny and Niall are integral to what we want to try and do here.
"That's why they play more or less every week and we want to bring in good players to play alongside these boys."
With that in mind, McInnes was pleased to tie Rooney down on a four-year contract last week, believing that the long-term deal will ensure Aberdeen see the 28-year-old Irishman, who has hit 48 goals in his last two season, reach his prime.
"The new deal takes Adam up to 32," said McInnes. "I've always felt the best years of a player's career were between 26 and 32 - they have the experience but still have the capability to get about the pitch.
"Adam has that know-how to score goals which you never lose anyway, so when we got speaking to him it became clear that it was about keeping him here as long as possible.
"We thought it was good business to get our top scorer from the last few seasons to commit to a longer contract.
"It illustrates how happy he is, not just at the club but in the area. He really has immersed himself in the north east. His family really are so comfortable here and see it as the place where they want to live.
"Adam sees this as the place where he wants to play his football, which is important. Players sign for clubs for loads of reasons - finance, ambition and all the rest of it - but I think there is a lot to be said for a player being happy and we're happy he sees it that way."
McInnes will freshen up his side when they take on Ayr United at Somerset Park in Wednesday's Betfred Cup clash but will take it seriously enough to ensure his team reach the quarter-finals.
He said: "We're well aware that there will be a scare or an upset in the round - we just need to make sure it's not us.
"We'll be favourites to win the game but their manager Ian McCall has said they are happy to take anybody on at Somerset and that they're confident they can get a result.
"So we have to respect Ayr have been in decent form and the fact they will fancy their chances of causing that upset, but hopefully we can bring the performance that gets us through."
Source: PAR
