DEREK McINNES has no time for those who blame the playing surface for cup defeats against lower league opposition.

So, should his Aberdeen side falter tomorrow on Falkirk's plastic, he would not cower behind the poor excuse that they could not cope with the artificial surface.

Nevertheless, McInnes has been preparing thoroughly for the Scottish League Cup tie; he took his squad to train at Forfar Athletic's Station Park in an effort to simulate match conditions. He also stressed that the pitch would not be the decisive factor in deciding whether Niall McGinn plays or not. "If Niall is fit then he'll be considered," he insisted. "The pitch won't come in to it. I know our medical staff might think differently, but for me there is too much made about artificial surfaces these days.

"If the Scottish Cup final was on astroturf everyone would declare themselves fit for that so it will be the same for this game. A third of the pitches in the lower leagues are artificial so you are going to come up against it at some point. Let's get it out our heads right now; win, lose or draw tomorrow, it will have nothing to do with the pitch.

"I've spoken to managers and players who have played on it and they've said this is one of the better ones. Falkirk will have a advantage in that they will be more used to it but it certainly will not be any excuse."

It is unlikely that McGinn or Barry Robson, still recovering from knee surgery, will be available tomorrow night while Willo Flood and Russell Anderson will definitely not make it.

Buoyed by his team's victory over the SPFL Premiership leaders, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, at the weekend, McInnes reiterated the emphasis there is at Pittodrie on the importance of having quality in his squad, and the need for infrequently called upon players being capable of stepping in to the first team.

"We knew we were going to have fewer numbers this season," he said, "and would maybe be tighter than some sides in the division, but we felt we had players who could come in and do their bit. You can only pick 11 to start each week and there's always going to be players who are frustrating while cooling their heels on the sidelines.

Another who will watch on frustrated is Ollie Durojaiye, after the Falkirk midfielder was ruled out with a broken bone in his foot. The 20-year-old has been impressive so far this season but was sidelined in the build-up to Saturday's 3-1 win over Dundee following a training-ground accident in which he broke a metatarsal. "It was innocuous, someone just stood on his foot in a challenge," said his manager, Gary Holt. "I think it was Luke [Leahy], who is one of the lightest players we've got. But he's fractured it, so he'll be out for the foreseeable future."