TOMORROW, 12.30, SKY SPORTS 2

we would be confident we would get second spot.”

Former Gers midfielder McInnes was touted for the hotseat at his old club when Warburton left – with the 45-yearold the bookies’ favourite and legendary Ibrox gaffer Walter Smith also urging the board to appoint him.

But that doesn’t give him extra motivation ahead of tomorrow as he takes on new Rangers gaffer Pedro Caixinha who claimed he is preparing for a trip to “hell”.

The Dons boss knows it will be a tasty atmosphere at a pumpedup Pittodrie and hopes for a repeat of the dramatic last-gasp win when the teams met in the north east last September.

But McInnes said of being linked with the Gers job: “When jobs come up or players are linked with speculation, you just see it as speculation.

“I made it clear that all my concentration was on Aberdeen.

“It is always difficult for a new manager coming in at this stage in the season. Pedro is assessing the squad and trying to get his ideas across. He seems very open and honest and he is getting a grasp and handle of the job he is in.

“He has obviously assessed the squad and has been trying to get his ideas across. I do like the way he has come across.

“We are just concentrating on being as good as we can be regardless of what Rangers team turns up and what formation they play.

“In terms of talking about a trip to hell I think the translation of that is he knows it is an important game. He is just trying to stress he knows the importance of the rivalry between the two clubs.

“Players, like the supporters, see this as a really meaningful fixture. It is always eagerly anticipated and a good game to play in. It will be sold out by the time kick-off comes round and there is still a lot on the game.

“When Rangers visit Aberdeen it is always eagerly anticipated but I wouldn’t go as far as hell. It was built up the last time and passed without incident.

“It was the atmosphere you wanted with two sets of fans, the majority of the Aberdeen fans going home happy because of the last-minute winner.

“It was a brilliant atmosphere and we have all sampled far worse than that.

“It is eagerly anticipated by the fans when the fixtures come out. It would have been one of the first they looked at but for us we see it as an opportunity to cement second spot.

“Rangers will come up fighting, trying to seize their opportunity to try to get closer to us.”

DEREK McINNES