First of two hurdles to secure second place

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes believes his side are halfway towards securing second spot in the Scottish Premiership but still have two major hurdles to overcome.

The Dons face two season-defining games at Pittodrie in the next four days against their rivals for runners-up spot with Hibernian visiting Pittodrie today before Rangers travel north on Tuesday.

Two wins will ensure Aberdeen finish second and McInnes has called for one last push from his side.

He said: “I believed we would need to win four games to get second spot after the split. We have done the first part and won two games and I think we’ve been very competent and measured with our performances.

“They’ve been good with two clean sheets, scoring goals and picking up six points.

“There’s no doubting the next game against Hibs is going to be a tougher challenge. If we can win it will be a step towards those four victories. I don’t know how Hibs will measure it and how they will see it.

“We see it as a game that it would be a step closer to finishing second if we can win it.” The challenge of an improving Rangers and a resurgent Hibs on their first season back in the top-flight has ensured Aberdeen have been pushed hard this term but McInnes is confident his side can emerge victorious and will take great satisfaction should his side finish best of the rest.

He said: “People have said that finishing second has been easy in the last few years, but I’ve said it before: ‘Why is nobody else doing it?’

“We’ve worked hard, we could break 70 points again this year for the fourth year in a row. In the last 15 years only two teams have managed to do that and it was Hearts and Motherwell.

“The common theme is that this is the strongest league that it’s been for a while, so it probably would be the most satisfying .

“Finishing first and competing for first would be the ideal scenario but it’s beyond every other team at the minute. Finishing second is the next best thing.

“We’ve normally secured second by this stage or certainly secured European football. But it’s all down to these last three games. That makes it dramatic, exciting, eagerly anticipated and we’re delighted that we’re in the heart of it rather than looking from the outside in. Hopefully we can go on and get another win.”

Kenny McLean is suspended for this afternooon’s game at Pittodrie, while Chidi Nwakali misses out due to an ankle injury.