Aberdeen and Kilmarnock come together on Saturday in the first of four Scottish Cup quarter-finals set to be played over the coming weekend.
Neither of these sides have made it past this stage in the competition since Aberdeen's appearance in the 2019-20 semi-final, where they lost 2-0 to eventual winners Celtic.
Match preview
© Reuters
A promising campaign last season saw Aberdeen finish third, but their fortunes have taken a turn for the worse this season as they find themselves 10th in the table with just five games remaining before the Scottish Premiership splits in two.
This leaves Aberdeen highly likely to be competing in the Relegation Round of the Scottish Premiership, where they will be fighting to stay in the top flight for the following season.
After a poor run in the league saw Aberdeen sitting in eighth place at the end of January, manager Barry Robson was sacked in favour of experienced manager Neil Warnock to be brought in on an interim basis, but the 75-year-old has been unable to produce the results for Aberdeen in his seven games in charge thus far.
Aberdeen are yet to win in the league under Warnock, taking four losses and two draws from their six games since his appointment at the beginning of February. The veteran manager has guided his side to at least one win though, as they defeated Scottish League Two side Bonnyrigg Rose 2-0 in the previous round of the Scottish Cup.
Warnock will now be looking to the next round of the cup as an opportunity for his side to claim a victory and act as a turning point in their season.
© Reuters
Kilmarnock will serve as a much harder opponent than Bonnyrigg Rose though, as Killie are currently enjoying their best season since finishing third back in 2018-19.
Derek McInnes's side are currently fifth in the table and eight points clear of seventh place, leaving them in a great position to qualify for the Championship Round.
Kilmarnock have lost just two of their last sixteen games heading into this quarter-final, and with them strolling to a 2-0 victory in their last meeting with Aberdeen a fortnight ago, they will be confident of securing their place in the semi-final.
While both Celtic and Rangers remain in the competition ahead of the upcoming quarter-final, Kilmarnock will be looking to make their first final in this competition since their historic victory in 1997.
Team News
© Reuters
Neither side have too many injury worries ahead of the Scottish Cup quarter-final, with Aberdeen missing a single player and Kilmarnock having to go without three of their own.
Aberdeen's central defender Slobodan Rubezic remains on the sidelines after the Montenegrin suffered a knee injury in their game against St. Johnstone at the end of January.
As for Kilmarnock, Kyle Magennis is yet to return from the hamstring injury that has kept him out since the end of December, but the midfielder is expected to make a return later this month.
Bradley Lyons is also still on the treatment table following his injury that has kept him out of the side since his last appearance against Dundee FC on the 30th of December.
The visitors must also cope without defender Lewis Mayo, who was controversially dismissed against Dundee and will serve a one-match ban after Kilmarnock failed with an appeal.
Aberdeen possible starting lineup:
Roos; Devlin, Gartenmann, MacDonald, Jensen; Barron, Shinnie; Lopes, Phillips, Hoilett; Miovski
Kilmarnock possible starting lineup:
Dennis; Wright, Deas, Findlay, Ndaba; Armstrong, Polworth, Donnelly, Kennedy; Watkins, Vassell
We say: Aberdeen 0-2 Kilmarnock
Aberdeen and Kilmarnock's contrasting form leading into this game makes it hard to see any outcome other than Kilmarnock extending Aberdeen's poor form with a victory in this one.
Warnock's side have struggled for goals in their past few games, and we expect Kilmarnock to keep a clean sheet in this one as they progress through to the semi-final of the Scottish Cup.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
