Steven Naismith and Barry Robson will go head to head on Saturday in a crunch Scottish Premiership clash.
But the Aberdeen boss is full of admiration for his former Scotland international team-mate ahead of a massive game in the race for third spot. The Dons make the trip to Tynecastle in pole position with a five point lead over the Jambos with just three games to play - including the clash in Gorgie. A win for the visitors and they can't be caught by Hearts and depending on results elsewhere could be confirmed as the best of the rest.
Victory for Naismith and Co and the gap reduces to just two points with two huge games to be played midweek and next weekend. Celtic are heavy favourites to defeat Inverness in the Scottish Cup Final and that would bring a Europa League play-off spot and the guaranteed parachute of Europa Conference League group stage football with it. Not to mention the financial bonus of competing on the European stage.
READ MORE: Hearts vs Aberdeen on TV: Channel, live stream and kick-off details for huge Tynecastle showdown
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Robson is a fan of pal Naisy and is looking forward to a catch up on Saturday, but for 90 minutes the pair will be enemies with a huge three points up for grabs.
The Aberdeen boss said: "I like Naisy. He had a real hunger and passion for the game and wanted to talk about it all the time. I could see that when at Scotland camps together.
"Top player as well. He's the type when you've got that love and enthusiasm for the game you are always going to look to go into that coaching/management side. I got on well with Naisy. He's a good boy and it will be good to catch up on Saturday."
On Shankland - who had a stint at Aberdeen as a youngster - he added: "Yeah he has done well and it just shows you how hard he has worked to get to where he is and he deserves that. That shows you that hard work can pay off. He's a talented boy as well and scores goals. Lovely kid. So yeah he has done well."
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