As often happens in football, tonight at Ibrox, players will come against their former club.
It is very likely that Ross McCrorie and David Bates will be Aberdeen’s partnership in central defence – which presents a big chance for Steven Gerrard’s side.
The Dons are well known to be seriously depleted in defence, with Scott Brown a possibility to feature in their back line, maybe even as part of a three.
In the case of both players, McCrorie and Bates, they left Ibrox on relatively good terms, but the truth of the matter is that neither were of the required standard to carve out a future in Gerrard’s plans.
The former featured across Gerrard’s first season before going out on loan to Portsmouth whilst Bates left as Gerrard was arriving in 2018.
Ross, twin brother of Gers keeper Robbie, was most often utilised as a ‘destroyer’ in midfield, but his skill set was considered to limited and too ‘niche’ to be a regular starter, his chances as a central defender would be even more scarce but this is the position were he has appeared recently for Stephen Glass’ team.
Bates went off to Hamburg in Germany but after a mixed first season in the Hanseatic city, he was moved out on loan and would not feature again for HSV. Now, after spells at Sheffield Wednesday and Cercle Brugge, the man signed by Mark Warburton from Raith is now striving to get his career back on track in the Granite City.
In terms of levels, they aren’t a match for Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe but that has to be demonstrated tonight. The Dons defensive pair need to feel the heat and the pressure from a fluent Rangers attack and if that materialises, the goals will follow.