ABERDEEN manager Mark McGhee is tonight looking for a repeat of the performance that saw the Dons beat Hearts in the Scottish Cup.
But while McGhee expects his side to compete on the pitch, he knows there is no way his club can compete with Hearts off the field after Falkirk defender Darren Barr opted for Gorgie over the Dons.
Barr signed a pre-contract deal with Hearts on Monday after holding talks with Aberdeen, Hibernian and Dundee.
Hearts are reported to be in the chase for Motherwell winger Jim O'Brien, another of McGhee's summer targets, and the Pittodrie manager knows they will be unable to match the Edinburgh club in terms of wages.
"I always feared that if their interest was genuine, we wouldn't be able to afford to match what they can offer," McGhee said.
"Regardless of what rumours you hear about Hearts, they still seem able to outbid and gazump us all. They definitely seem to be the third force in Scotland in financial terms still."
When asked whether Aberdeen were unable to afford Barr's weekly wage demands, McGhee said: "My understanding is that it's not £3,000 a week, it's more than that.
"I'm not prepared to discuss what we pay our players, that would be wrong.
"But I know what Darren Barr is going to get and it's way in excess of what we pay anyone here."
The Dons boss is still looking to add to his pool before the transfer window closes at midnight on Monday but he could be frustrated unless Plymouth striker Steven MacLean makes a late decision to accept a move north.
"The deal is done with Plymouth, the offer is there for the lad and he can come here when he picks up the phone," McGhee said.
"He told me he was waiting to see if he could get a permanent move out of Plymouth - that hasn't happened - and if he didn't, the possibility was he would still be willing to come here.
"He has got until next Monday to phone me to tell me that's the case. If he phones, I will consider whether we are still in a position to take him. It can be done instantly."
McGhee added: "I would like to have a bigger group. But I'm not going to add players who are some sort of short-term fix to try and beat Motherwell on Saturday or Hibs the next week for instance.
"MacLean and Barr were long-term targets. We don't have money spare to indulge ourselves, to sign somebody for the rest of the season, where I could use that money to add to a player like Darren Barr's package to persuade them to sign in the summer. I'm still taking a long-term view
"I'm satisfied that the ones I have are giving me their best. I would still like to have two or three more but that's a summer project."
Source: Team Talk
Source: Team Talk