The Dons boss watched his players take on admin-penalised Hearts in August, but his charges had left their shooting boots at home as they slumped to defeat.
McInnes believes the Dons didn’t deserve to lose at Tynecastle that day but won’t accept any hard luck stories this time.
He added: “There’s no score to settle with Hearts but it was a game we should have won down there.
“We passed up too many opportunities at their end and then failed to see off a free-kick at the death.
“If we can be as clinical as we were against Thistle the other night, I’m sure we can win. But it won’t be easy.”