IT'S a fixture which always holds plenty of drama.
Rangers vs Aberdeen is certainly one to look out for in the Scottish football calendar.
From stunning goals to controversial red cards, this match-up has seen the lot in recent years.
This weekend will be the first time the teams have met in this campaign. The first fixture between the sides was postponed due to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in September.
There's a lot riding on the match for Rangers, with substantial pressure beginning to mount on Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
The hosts go into the game fresh off the back of a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Napoli in the Champions League, where they barely laid a glove on the Serie A outfit.
That result left the Ibrox club needing a positive outcome against Ajax next Tuesday to avoid potentially going down as the worst Champions League team of all time. They have conceded a whopping 19 goals in five matches and in turn, have yet to register a single point.
On top of their European woes, last time out at Ibrox, Rangers were booed off the park for their dismal performance against Livingston last Saturday. Only a last-minute John Lundstram strike saved them from the embarrassment of a home defeat to David Martindale's men.
This left Rangers four-points behind Celtic at the top of the table.
All of this, and their overall form of two wins in five games, has led to growing murmurs of discontent among supporters. Some groups have called for a change of manager.
They may well get their wish this weekend depending on Rangers' result with Aberdeen.
In contrast to the concerning developments on the field at Rangers, by their high standards anyway, Aberdeen are hitting their stride.
Jim Goodwin has lifted the Dons to third spot in the Premiership after 11 games. Aberdeen have won four of their last five and confidence rightly looks to be high among the players. Importantly, one of those victories came against last season's 'best of the rest', Hearts.
Lots of credit needs to go to Goodwin and his backroom team for instilling such a strong belief in the squad. Not only are they earning good results, their performances are bringing in plenty of plaudits from fans and pundits alike.
Under Derek McInnes, results were a constant. It's very well documented how he consistently put a team together to finish second and third in the league and to reach cup finals.
One sticking point for the Aberdeen supporters, certainly towards the end of his tenure, was the lack of style and entertainment on show from his sides.
Goodwin appears to be bringing together the right balance as things stand. They have scored 22 goals in the Premiership to date, losing 16 goals. Understandably, only Rangers and Celtic boast a better goal difference.
It helps playing with two strikers who can score goals, right enough. In Bojan Miovski and Luis Lopes Aberdeen have the fire-power to cause serious problems to any defence in the league. Motherwell found that out last week.
Kelle Roos has statistically performed as the best goalkeeper in the top flight too. So between scoring a healthy amount of goals and having a keeper who's keeping teams out, the Pittodrie club are on to a winner.
They will fancy their chances at Ibrox on Saturday, for sure. No doubt that Goodwin will look at Livingston's well-earned point last week as inspiration for what can be done against Rangers in their current state. One point to caveat that, though, Aberdeen will have more of a go.
The sides will meet in December after the World Cup break as well as in January in the semi-finals of the Premier Sports Cup.
One question must be posed: Will van Bronckhorst still be in charge the next time Rangers face Aberdeen?
The Ibrox board may well need to consider that in the coming days.
