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And the knock-on effect is that while a number of players that miss tomorrow's game could be fit for Thursday's crucial UEFA Cup fixture with FC Copenhagen, should they play such an important game as their first back from injury?
Speaking yesterday, Dons boss Jimmy Calderwood said: "The injury situation as it stands is we have four players out for this Saturday.
"Jackie McNamara is out, Jeffrey De Visscher is out, although it looks as if he will be fit for Thursday, Jamie Smith is out, but could be fit for Thursday, and Darren Mackie is out but at least he has started back in light training.
"Zander [Diamond] was back in training today as was [Karim] Touzani and we will see how they go but it looks as though they will be fit. Darren will hopefully be back by the beginning of the New Year.
"Touzani was really upset by what happened with the freak accident and he took it quite hard as he appeared to be coming on to form but his chin is up and he should hopefully be fit for selection."
This suggests that while Jimmy is not keen to throw players into an SPL game, he is looking to send Smith, Diamond, Touzani and De Visscher into Aberdeen's most important game in a decade.
Not only are they straight back from injury - and maybe not physically ready for such a big tie - but they have no match practice in the build-up, so may not be mentally ready either.
The problem arose when Jamie Smith was rushed back to face Atletico Madrid, and only lasted 43 minutes of the game.
Jackie McNamara also hobbled off after 30 minutes of the UEFA Cup tie, leaving Calderwood with only one substitution left for the second half.
If Calderwood has faith in the full squad, which he should have after patched-up teams dominated recent victories over Hibs and Dundee Utd, then surely there is no need to rush back our injured stars.
The question of whether to rest players in league games prior to European ties has also been a topic of conversation amongst fans this week.
Aberdeen should maybe be thankful for Motherwell's legendary stubbornness after Rangers' rest weekend led to them getting turned over by a rampant Lyon side - who had lost 1-0 at the weekend.
However Calderwood could impose his own rest period on certain vital players against Motherwell and save them for Copenhagen.
But that raises the question - which is more important: an SPL game where victory would put us two points off third place, or a UEFA Cup game that could be our ticket to the last 32 in the competition?
These questions will be muddling round Caldo's mind as he stands over the tombola today, but in Aberdeen-Mad's opinion he should pick his best and fittest available team for every game.
Stand Free Ed