Derek McInnes says he will be without five of his key men during Rangers Aberdeen at the weekend.
The Dons travel to Rangers looking to build on their strong start to the season which currently has them in third spot. McInnes knows how difficult things will be against a Gers side still unbeaten in all competitions.
To make matters harder, Aberdeen will travel to Ibrox without Niall McGinn, Dylan McGeouch, Jonny Hayes, Marley Watkins and Ross McCrorie, the latter due to a loan agreement as the utility man is currently on loan at Pittodrie from Rangers.
McGinn misses out after an injury picked up on Northern Ireland duty as McGeouch, Hayes and Watkins carry injuries from before the international break into the return of domestic action.
“Niall McGinn has injured his calf, he did it in the Northern Ireland game against Slovakia,” said McInnes. “We got him scanned over the weekend. It is not a tear but will probably keep him out for three weeks. It is the same type of injury he had at the start of the season.
“We are missing big players; Marley Watkins has been a key player for us, Dylan McGeouch and Jonny Hayes are out as well as Niall and Ross is unavailable.
“Dean Campbell has trained the past two weeks so young Dean will come back into the squad. I am also really pleased with the way Funso Ojo has been training. It is a test for us for on Sunday, we will need a very strong away performance.”