Billy Dodds
Former Scotland striker on BBC Sportsound

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"Our fight is with ourselves at the minute" is Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes' succinct assessment of his side's recent poor form.

The Dons have gone three games without a victory, their last match being a 4-1 drubbing by Ross County.

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However, the Dons can move back up to third spot in the Premiership, should they beat Motherwell at Pittodrie this afternoon.

"We've got an opportunity to show that we are, at the very least, the third best team in Scotland through our league campaign," McInnes said.

"And that is what we intend to do. Even if we win one of our games in hand [the Dons have two] then we will be sitting in third spot.

"We have done enough this season to suggest we can finish the season where we want to finish."

John Hughes has been in bullish form ahead of his Ross County side facing Rangers at Ibrox.

His side's impressive 4-1 victory over Aberdeen saw County move a point off the foot of the Premiership table.

Ahead of facing league leaders Rangers, Hughes can see the green shoots of recovery.

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"We've only been beaten once in the last four games and I can see the momentum coming.

"That's what every manager is looking for - and the confidence that comes from winning. Rangers play football the way it should be played. They keep the ball, you don't get a touch of it.

"You get to test yourself against the best and I hope the boys can do that, that their mindset is that we can give them a game."

It's perhaps unsurprising that John Hughes sticks closely to the line-up that secured County a handsome 4-1 win over fourth-placed Aberdeen a week ago.

One of two changes is to give a swift debut to Leo Hjelde, who was signed yesterday on loan from Celtic. That's showing some amount of faith in a 17-year-old.

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It means that winger Regan Charles-Cooke drops to the bench along with forward Jermain Hylton, with Ross Draper returning to midfield in a side that has so many defensive-minded players in it you can imagine them forming a bus shape across Ibrox.

Stephen Kelly is missing from the bench as the on-loan midfielder is unable to play against his parent club.

Steven Gerrard is becoming renowned for consistency of selection - and for rotating the partner to Connor Goldson in central defence.

Filip Helander comes in for Leon Balogun in the only change from the side that drew 1-1 away to Motherwell on Sunday.

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Perhaps more significant news for Rangers fans is the return from injury of Ryan Jack, with the Scotland midfielder on the bench and hoping to make his first appearance in two months following a troublesome injury.

Striker Kemar Roofe also makes an appearance in the squad for the first time since being injured against Celtic on 2 January. It gives Gerrard plenty of firepower to call upon on the bench, where he is joined by Jermain Defoe and Cedric Itten.

Steven Gerrard is preparing for his 150th game in charge of Rangers, with the prospect of moving 23 points clear of defending Premiership champions Celtic.

"It's a journey I've enjoyed immensely," Gerrard said ahead of facing Ross County at Ibrox.

"I'm certainly in a better place, from an individual point of view, from what I've learnt.

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"I want to continue to push myself in all areas to become a better manager.

"I knew walking into this job it wasn't going to be an overnight change, it was going to be a process.

"I've been reluctant to mention targets but I was well aware of what was expected of me."

Motherwell stick with the same side that drew 1-1 last weekend with Rangers.

Northampton Town forward Harry Smith has joined on loan until the summer, and he begins on the bench.

Steven Lawless, who made his debut as a substitute against Rangers, is sidelined through injury.

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Aberdeen make two changes from their 4-1 hammering by Ross County.

Forward Curtis Main, who had started the last six games but failed to find the net, is replaced by Ryan Hedges who returns from suspension.

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Ross McCrorie left Dingwall on crutches last week and his place in midfield is taken by Funso Ojo.

But Ash Taylor and Jonny Hayes, who were both injured against County also, have recovered to make the starting line-up.

Rangers: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Helander, Barisic, Davis, Kamara, Aribo, Kent, Hagi, Morelos.

Substitutes: McLaughlin, Bassey, Patterson, Balogun, Jack, Zungu, Roofe, Defoe, Itten.

Ross County: Laidlaw, Randall, Hjelde, Morris, Iacovitti, Naismith, Lakin, Paton, Draper, Vigurs, Shaw.

Substitutes: Gardyne, Mckay, Hylton, Watson, Charles-Cooke, Tillson, Donaldson, Andreu, Munro.

Aberdeen: Lewis, Considine, Taylor, Hoban, Hayes, Kennedy, Ferguson, Ojo, Wright, Hedges, Cosgrove.

Substitutes: Woods, Logan, Leigh, Main, McGinn, McLennan, Anderson, Campbell, Virtanen

Motherwell: Kelly, O'Donnell, Mugabi, Gallagher, Carroll, Campbell, Crawford, Polworth, Watt, Seedorf, Cole.

Substitutes: Morrison, Long, Smith, Johnston, Lamie, Hastie, MacIver, McGinley, Maguire.

Clive James: Good luck to Livingston, Hibernian, St Mirren and St Johnstone. Hopefully two good semi-finals and a good final. Enjoy, and may the best team win.

You know the drill: get in touch via Twitter @bbcsportscot to offer your pearls of wisdom ahead of today's Premiership/Championship and League Cup semi-final action.