Aberdeen will hope the Scottish Cup can provide the perfect escape from their league form.
The victory over Elgin City in round four remains the Dons‘ only win since November and their 14-game winless streak in the league has derailed their once promising season.
Championship strugglers Dunfermline are their visitors this afternoon who will also be glad of the break from their league struggles, although they did enjoy a fine Fife derby win under new boss Michael Tidser.
Jimmy Thelin held showdown talks with his Aberdeen players this week in the hope a bit of soul searching could help turn their fortunes around.
Fans have been growing frustrated but the Red Army will be expecting a result at Pittodrie today – and then hope it can be used as a springboard going forward.
Today’s game also allows both teams to pay tribute to former manager of both Jimmy Calderwood, who passed away recently.
The teams are now in for it and as as follows.
- READ MORE: Scottish Cup round-up as Dundee, St Johnstone & Livingston all progress to quarter-finals
Aberdeen vs Dunfermline Scottish Cup team news
Aberdeen starting XI: Doohan, Jensen, Tobers, Knoester, MacKenzie, Nilsen, Palaversa, Okkels, Keskinen, Nisbet, Gueye
Subs: Ritchie, Devlin, Shinnie, Clarkson, Morris, Dorrington, Boyd, Ambrose
Dunfermline starting XI: Oluwayemi, Comrie, Benedictus, Hamilton, Otoo, Chalmers, McCann, Stevens, Wotherspoon, Kane, Chiloka-Mullen
Subs: Mehmet, Ngwenya, Fogarty, Ritchie-Hosler, Taylor-Clarke, O’Halloran, Yeboah, Hampson