[DavidMc]

Aberdeen v Celtic
Scottish Cup 1/4 Final
Sunday 9th March 08
Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen

Aberdeen's Jamie Smith has returned to training and may be available for Sunday's Scottish Cup quarter-final.
But Darren Mackie, Steve Lovell and Jackie McNamara are injury doubts, Zander Diamond is struggling through illness and Barry Nicholson is banned.

Derek Young, Richie Byrne and Stuart Duff are missing through injury.

Celtic midfielder Scott Brown is suspended but Andreas Hinkel returns to the squad after being cup-tied for the Champions League defeat by Barcelona.


On-loan striker Georgios Samaras may be given a start by the visitors and the Greek international is determined to make his mark in Scotland.

"I believe that we can win the cup and the league," he said.

"I will do my best to go back home for my holidays with two medals around my neck."

Meanwhile, Dons boss Jimmy Calderwood reckons his side must make the most of home advantage.

"I think if we are going to go through then we will need to win the game here in Aberdeen because it will be difficult to go back to Parkhead and do that," he said.

"Obviously if you are losing one nil and you score in the last minute then you would settle for going to Parkhead.

"But at this moment in time if we are going to progress then we have to give winning at home our best shot.

"We have caused some upsets here before and looking at our home record this season, it has not been too bad."



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Aberdeen (from): Langfield, Mair, Maybury, Diamond, Considine, Bus, Foster, Walker, Severin, Aluko, Miller, Maguire, Jamie Smith, De Visscher, Touzani, Dan Smith, Jonathan Smith, Soutar.

Celtic (from): Boruc, Hinkel, Wilson, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Hartley, McDonald, Donati, Sno, McGeady, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Samaras, Mark Brown, Pressley, Robson, O'Dea.