Aberdeen vs Ipswich LIVE as two transfer recruits handed starts by Thelin with Hirst in for the visitors

Aberdeen are heading into the final stages of their pre-season preparations as the big competitive return to action looms.

Jimmy Thelin's men have had extra time on the grass as league rivals get down to work in the Premier Sports Cup.

Booking European football means they skip the league section of the domestic cup competition.

However, the Scottish Premiership gets up and running next weekend and the Dons face a trip to Hearts for a Monday night clash under the lights to kick off their campaign against a familiar face in Derek McInnes.

The Europa League play-off round will also be firmly in the thoughts of Thelin and his troops and tonight's test against Ipswich - relegated from the Premier League last season - will provide another stiff test and get valuable match minutes in the legs.

Aberdeen: Mitov, Jensen, Milne, Knoester, Shinnie, Clarkson, Palaversa, Morris, Aouchiche, Keskinen, Yengi. Subs: Suman, Devlin, Nilen, Polvara, Milanovic, Molloy, Dorrington, Kjartansson, Boyd, Ambrose, Lobban

Follow every kick from the Pittodrie showdown in our LIVE blog

The visitors have arrived at Pittodrie.

Boss Kieran McKenna has been out on the grass ahead of the friendly showdown

Aberdeen XI: Mitov, Jensen, Milne, Knoester, Shinnie, Clarkson, Palaversa, Morris, Aouchiche, Keskinen, Yengi

Subs: Suman, Devlin, Nilen, Polvara, Milanovic, Molloy, Dorrington, Kjartansson, Boyd, Ambrose, Lobban

This one is a 7.30pm start so we are edging closer and closer.

The Dons are in the building as pre-match preparations begin.

Predicitons for this one?

So, Aberdeen will find out their Europa League fate VERY soon.

The play-off draw takes place on Monday, August 4.

At this stage Thelin and Co will know who stands between them and a