Live Commentary

Brown buoyed by good start Aberdeen manager Craig Brown admits his team's positive start to the season has given him hope they can join the chasing pack in a Clydesdale Bank Premier League expected to be dominated by Celtic. The Dons have beaten St Johnstone and Morton, in the Scottish Communities League Cup, in the past seven days. And the Pittodrie boss believes Sunday will be a good challenge for his players against Hearts. When asked whether Aberdeen could challenge, Brown responded: "Well, I'm not saying that. "I'm saying we'll do the best we can and try to improve on last season. "Other people think we've started in a positive manner and we're likely to challenge, I'm not saying that. "This will be a good yardstick against Hearts and I expect Hearts, Dundee United and Motherwell to be the teams chasing Celtic. "I'm very hopeful that Aberdeen will join that group." Aberdeen midfielder Stephen Hughes is a doubt for the Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Hearts with a hamstring injury. But both Russell Anderson and Rory Fallon will be available following injury. Rob Milsom is a doubt having been sent to see a specialist following a recurrence of a knee injury while Niall McGinn (ankle) is still out. Meanwhile, Arvydas Novikovas believes Liverpool took Hearts to a new level in their Europa League clash and hopes the lesson will help the Gorgie men go on to achieve second-spot in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League this season. There was much to be admired about the Jambos' battling performance against a side who, despite being without Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez, Martin Skrtel, Glen Johnson and Andy Carroll, were packed with multi-million pound stars. Andy Webster's unfortunate own goal after the break gave Brendan Rodgers' side the advantage going into next week's play-off second-leg at Anfield. However, it was way that Hearts went about their task which gave succour to the 21-year-old Lithuania international and he insists that if the Gorgie men replicate it on a regular basis they can win the race to be the best of the rest behind Celtic, overwhelmingly favourites to retain their title. Ahead of the trip to Aberdeen in the SPL on Sunday, Novikovas said: "I think against teams like Liverpool, mentally, your brain is working much better, it is so concentrated on all things, even the small things. "When you are playing in the SPL, you think like 'this is not Liverpool, it is easier'. "You need to concentrate on all games and if we do we have the chance to finish second. "We haven't lost yet, we were unlucky against Inverness (in our last game) so I think we are able to get second." Hearts have doubts over Danny Grainger and Mariuz Zaliukas for the clash with Aberdeen. Zaliukas needed an injection in a thigh injury to face Liverpool and left-back Grainger tweaked his knee against the Reds but played 90 minutes. David Templeton drops out to serve the second game of his two-match domestic ban.