The Scottish premiere focuses on Tannadice, Kyogo and Clement

There was a time when these two were known as “The New Firm”.

While Aberdeen and Dundee United are currently far from the noble teams of the 1980s that eroded the Glasgow giants’ grip on the game, they are the next best in the league.

Jim Goodwin has lost both games against his former club since taking over as United boss, but a win on Sunday would close the gap between third and fourth to three points.

And the pace is with the hosts. Ten games into the campaign, the Dons had an amazing 28 points, two times behind United’s double.

Aberdeen’s dream start is fading as they look to end a seven-match winless run. They come into this game having conceded seven goals in defeats to Hibs and Kilmarnock. The same group of players started six in the first seven league games.

Tired-looking midfield duo Graeme Shinnie and Sivert Heltne Nilsen have withdrawn in the last two games, the latter moving straight to Pittodrie after a full season in Norway.

United, on the other hand, are full of beans, having lost just once in eight games.

Sam Dalby scored a Boxing Day winner at St Johnstone and the big forward leads the Premiership goalscoring charts with nine, while only Rangers and Celtic have conceded fewer goals at home.

Will Ferry is a threat up and down the left flank and Vicko Sevelj is increasingly influential in the middle of the park.