Title defence tested from the off

Aberdeen played three friendlies, scoring 10 and conceding a goal in each, before their four League Cup group games this month. They scored 12 without conceding in them.

Celtic Park on Sunday will be a whole different challenge, but as we remember from even recent times, getting the job done against lower league teams is seldom straightforward.

There have been more false dawns at Pittodrie over the last 30 years than sunny dawns, so we cannot expect too much from Jim Goodwin. Still, his team is close to full fitness, paying well, confident and will head to Celtic Park on Sunday as ready as they could hope to be.

The title defence will be tested from the off.