Preview - Aberdeen (h)

Apart from the team bus, there have been no reports of injuries following week’s visit to Road. Phil O’Donnell came one as a late substitute for the second consecutive game and he must be pressing for a place in the starting eleven. The Stevie Hammell experiment also had its second trial against Hibs and the management team will have to consider whether the left midfield berth should be given to the number three jersey yet again.

CIS Cup win over Aberdeen

Everyone will hope that referee Calum Murray has a game which attracts less attention than last week’s man in black. Charlie Richmond managed to flourish the yellow card to seven Motherwell players in a game without a bad tackle and we will miss the services of McCormack for one game (v Livingston) as a result.

Aberdeen are not without their troubles. The managed only a 0-0 draw at Livi last week and as Calderwood remarked, "We were the luckiest side in the world to get away with a draw.” He believes that the Dons are lacking in confidence and the news that Scott Severin has turned down the offer of a contract extension will do little to help their recovery.