DEREK McINNES might find an opening game of the season against Dundee United following a near-7000 miles flight from Kazakhstan challenging, but the Aberdeen manager must consider, too, that his opponents may complain of the handicap of losing their three star players, not to say a formidable defender, in recent months.

While the Pittodrie club have kept their playing squad tight numerically, McInnes believes his summer additions – goalkeeper Danny Ward, centre-back Paul Quinn and the ever-impressive, Graeme Shinnie – have brought fresh quality to their attempt to retain their mantle as the Ladbrokes Premiership's second best side.

The loss of Stuart Armstrong, Gary Mackay-Steven and Nadir Ciftci to Celtic and the departure of centre-back Jaroslaw Fojut to his native country, Poland, has severely dented Dundee United's aspirations to follow Aberdeen into the Europa League qualifiers a year from now as the Tannadice fans wonder if their team can overcome such an exodus.

McInnes remembers clearly the defeat to Jackie McNamara's team on the opening day of last season, three days after Aberdeen had faced Real Sociedad in a Europa League tie at Pittodrie, though he did not seek excuses in advance of tomorrow's trip to Tayside, despite the exertions of Thursday when his side lost 2-1 to Kairat Almaty in the first leg of the third qualifying round of that competition.

"I've no criticism of the players," he said, "as there were reasons for it as we didn't have any more energy to give when we need to produce it.

"I played my part in that because I maybe didn't freshen the team up as much as I should for the United game.

"The Sociedad match obviously took a lot out of the players but Dundee United always give us a hard game whenever we play them.

"They beat us more than just in that first game of last season, so every time we play them we need a high level of intensity to get the better of them.

"That and ability is what is required down at Tannadice if we are going to deliver a performance that can get us a good result.

"Of course, a year ago we were going into the United match on the back of a home tie so you would think the travelling this time would be more of a factor.

"That might make it more challenging, but then that is something that we have to be seen to be able to cope with if we are going to be in European competition.

"What we will do is prepare everything right to give the players the maximum chance of getting a win on Sunday."

So, might we expects changes in his line-up tomorrow?

"I've got less of a squad in terms of numbers than I had last season," he said, "but I feel there is the capability to change it.

"There are a lot of factors to take in to account and I have a team in mind to play in that game but it depends on the fall out from the European game."