Aberdeen v Rangers

RANGERS' international winger, Neil McCann, said it innocently enough, but the significance of his words would sound alarming for those who believe that Rangers have dominated the business so far.

''I don't think we have hit our peak yet this season,'' he said. ''We played well last Sunday, but before that we were not consistent. I think we still have to have every player playing at his best.''

McCann, who did concede that the performance against Celtic last weekend was decent enough, is convinced that the chances of Rangers suffering from a post-Old Firm complacency is remote. ''The manager won't let us get sloppy, not even in training,'' he said. ''He is not slow at coming forward if he thinks that is happening.''

Even so, the presumption that the league championship flag is tied up, delivered, and awaiting hoisting is prevalent throughout the land, which can make life a little complicated if the job is not yet done.

However, McCann makes it clear that the Ibrox division are keeping their eyes on the ball.

''Beating Celtic put us a fantastic position to win the second title in a row, but the gaffer keeps telling us that it is still to be done.

''Aberdeen have proved that they can beat us up there, but we want to win every game we play from now on. We don't want to give Celtic a wee sniff of the championship again.''

The Scottish winger has had his own problems establishing a starting place, but he accepts that this is the way of life at Ibrox. ''I feel good, but getting into the side is difficult. All you can do is keep working hard in training and hope to get your chance. I have set up a few goals in the last few weeks, so I hope that helps.''

He also looks forward to having players like Fernando Ricksen, signed from Dutch side AZ Alkmar, and his former Hearts colleague, Allan Johnston, around in the new season.

''It is great for the club that players like Ricksen and Johnston are coming here. We are getting stronger all the time and we are looking forward to next season already. Allan is a great player and he will excite the crowd. He is another Scotish internationalist joining us and means more competition for places, but we have to accept that. It is is is the kind of thing that makes this a big club.''

Advocaat revealed that Craig Moore went through a knee operation on Tuesday and is expected to be out for three or four weeks. Otherwise, the probability is that Giovanni van Bronckhorst is out after suffering a groin injury playing for Holland against Belgium, when he was on for the second half, in midweek.

Tony Vidmar is still out, but Jonaton Johansson returns to the squad after a long time on the sidelines through injury.

Meanwhile, Aberdeen midfielder Andy Dow would like to prove that lightning does strike twice by becoming the first player in domestic football to score the winner against Rangers for a second time this season.

The Aberdeen midfielder and Dundee counterpart Gavin Rae are the only men in the Scottish game to have claimed the goals that have sunk Dick Advocaat's side during the current campaign.

Rae helped the Dark Blues inflict the only SPL defeat back in November and, within days, Dow's extra-time strike knocked the holders out of the League Cup at Pittodrie.

Unfortunately, the Dons have struggled recently, losing to Celtic at the National Stadium and being back at the bottom of the division, which is why Dow is looking for yet another morale boosting win today.

He said: ''It's nice to know that I am one of only two players to get a winner against Rangers in the whole of Scottish football, but it would be even better to do that for a second time.

''Our victory over them in December was really the catalyst for a lot of the good results that followed for us and a repeat would be the perfect boost for the rest of the campaign.

''To know we put out the holders and treble winners from last season gave everyone at Pittodrie a tremendous lift, as well as the belief that we can go out and do it all over again.

''We have the psychological edge of knowing that we were capable of getting a victory from that fixture and, if we work as hard as we did that night, we can get something out of this fixture.

''I know Rangers are looking to get the league won as quickly as possible, but the result means as much if not more to us, given our league position.

''The results have improved over the last few months, but we are still down at the bottom of the league and we need to put pressure on Kilmarnock by getting above them again before their trip to Parkhead on Sunday.

''It might be difficult to challenge Rangers effectively over an entire season, but we have shown that anything is possible in a one-off encounter.''

Hicham Zerouali misses the match because of the ankle injury that resulted in him being carried off against Celtic a fortnight ago, but the Moroccan striker has been given the all-clear by his country to play in the Scottish Cup semi-final if fit.

The original plan was for the player to be called-up for a full international next week, but the Moroccan FA have relented to allow him to take part in the Hibernian match if the injury problem is conquered.

Mark Perry is available after suspension but faces a fitness test on his injured back, while Rachid Belabed will return to the bench after missing the game at Tannadice through injury.

Aberdeen manager Ebbe Skovdahl is downbeat about the chances of beating the team he believes are easily the best in the country at the moment.

He said: ''I know we beat them the last time they were at Pittodrie, but that will have no bearing on this game and Rangers showed just how good they are when beating Celtic last week.

''They are a quality team in a European context now and we will have to work very hard if we are going to have a chance of winning.''

BOOKIES' VIEW: Aberdeen 6-1, Rangers 4-9, draw 7-2.