ABERDEEN'S season has been far from the disaster some Dons fans believe - says Dundee United manager Craig Levein.
The Dons currently sit in sixth place in the SPL and last week re-entered the fight for third place with their win over Hibs at Pittodrie.
And Levein cannot believe that the Dons season has been written off as a failure by some sections of the fans and media.
He said: "I reckon in terms of recent league form Aberdeen are up there. They are in good form and I find it quite funny when people say they have had a poor season.
"Put it this way, if that is going to be a poor season I certainly wouldn't mind that. They have reached two semi-finals of cup competitions and also done superbly well in Europe.
"If Aberdeen beat us on Saturday they are only two points behind us with two games left, but we will be going there with optimism."
Aberdeen are in the middle of an injury crisis similar to the last time the two teams met in November - but on that occasion the fringe players rose to the occasion, scoring a comprehensive 2-0 win.
Boss Jimmy Calderwood said: "The long term [injured] are still out - Richie Byrne, Jamie Smith and Lee Mair, although Mair is improving. Zander Diamond is suspended and both Darren Mackie and Alan Maybury are out.
"So we are really down to the bones but that was the same earlier in the season when we met United at Pittodrie and we produced a wonderful performance so hopefully history repeats itself."
Maybury's injury has had fans concerned that the on-loan Leicester full-back may have played his last game for the Dons.
But Calderwood added: "I am not sure if Maybury has fractured or broken his ribs or if they are just bruised. If they are fractured or broken that will be him for the season I'm afraid.
"The lad has done great and hopefully Saturday was not his last appearance in an Aberdeen shirt. We will need to get talking to his agent and we will take it from there."