Tyrone Smith
BBC Scotland at Pittodrie

While there area a few empty seats around the home stands at PIttodrie, there is a very healthy away support who have made the short trip north from Dundee.

Image source, SNS

Afeez Aremu has a shot for Aberdeen that requires an intervention from Dundee goalkeeper Owen Goodman.

That certainly encouraged the home crowd.

Ross County win a free-kick just outside Dunfermline's penalty area and Jamie Lindsay's strike crashes off the post.

Dundee have started how they left off against Aberdeen last week, on the front foot and getting balls into the box.

No big chances so far, though.

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Aston Oxborough is called into action to deny an early goal for the visitors.

It's lovely play from Stuart Kettlewell's side and Brian Graham is totally unmarked inside the Dunfermline penalty box but an impressive stop from the hand of Oxborough keeps the game goalless.

An early stoppage at East End Park as Brian Graham receives some treatment for a head knock, the Ross County striker is fine to continue though.

The visitors win a free-kick about 40 yards from the Dunfermline goal and Lewis Strapp swings it towards the back post but it's an easy stop for Aston Oxborough.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Scotland at Pittodrie

The toughest job in Scottish football?

Meet the hawk with the unenviable task of keeping the seagulls away at Pittodrie.

And away we go.

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Ross County head coach Stuart Kettlewell tells BBC Scotland: "We face a really strong test but it's one we look forward to.

"It allows us to look at ourselves and see where we sit.

"In the last couple of games we've shown a bit of resilience. Mentally, that side looks stronger [than last season].

"Dunfermline are such a well-oiled machine, today I think it's shape v shape. They've got a lot of players who have really grown over the last 12 months, they've lost key players but have replaced them with real good quality.

"I think we're underdogs absolutely but if we can reach the level we know we can then we'll be really competitive in this game."

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Dunfermline Athletic manager Neil Lennon tells BBC Scotland: "These games are difficult. These are the hard yards.

"If you want to progress in cup competitions these are the games that are really going to test you. We have to be on our mettle today and if we can play anywhere near the level we did last week [against Ayr United] I'll be delighted.

"Regardless of them being in League One it'll be a tough game. They'll come here with confidence but we're confident as well."

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Dundee manager Steven Pressley tells BBC Scotland: "It's our third game in a row that we've remained unchanged. We felt that the team had performed extremely well. It was right to go with the same team.

"We certainly don't expect the same game. It's going to take an improved performance, if that's possible, from last week from us and it's going to take a lot of things to go our way to get the right result here at Pittodrie.

"Any game here at Pittodrie's a difficult game. For Dundee over the years, it's not been a happy hunting ground. They look like they're a very attack-minded team.

"We're still a little bit away squad-wise from where we want to be."

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Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson tells BBC Scotland: "It's an attacking line-up, it's a cup game. Dundee are a good team

"It's now for us to step up, which we will do and I believe we've gone really attacking with a really aggressive line-up.

"We've lost one game in six not six games we've lost. There's going to be bumps on the road. We got one last week [losing at Dundee].

"Football's about how you react to things so I'm hoping we get a good reaction today."

On new signing and debutant forward Mitchy Ntelo: "He's come in really positive, he's quick, he's bright. He certainly adds another goal threat to the team and another bit of pace that I thought we were lacking in the top end."

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Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland at East End Park

After their exploits in reaching the Scottish Cup final in May, Pars boss Neil Lennon will be keen to go deep into the Premier Sports Cup and confidence will be high, having defeated current holders St Mirren in the group stages.

Ross County, though, have started the campaign on fire, with six wins and a draw from their opening seven matches.

Both teams like to have a go, so I fully expect goals this afternoon in what is a sunny but cool afternoon in Fife.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Scotland at Pittodrie

Aberdeen were given a real towelling in the City of Discovery last weekend and were lucky to escape with a 2-0 defeat.

The Red Army will be hoping it is a case of lessons learned as they aim to avoid any such repeat by booking their passage through to the quarter finals.

Dundee boss Steven Pressley will simply be looking for more of the same from his players as they seek a fourth straight win against the Dons.

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These two were league rivals last season and dished up a load of goals in their head-to-heads.

There were two 2-2 draws, a 3-2 win for County and a 3-0 success for Dunfermline.

Dunfermline enjoyed a fabulous run to the Scottish Cup final last season, knocking out a trio of Premiership clubs; Hibs, Aberdeen and Falkirk, before they were overpowered by Celtic at Hampden.

Neil Lennon's side added St Mirren to that list in this competition as they recovered from a shock 3-0 defeat at East Kilbride in their opening group game.

The Fifers have started with two draws in the Championship, scoring just once.

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Richard Foster
Former Aberdeen defender on BBC Sportscene

Dundee ran over the top of Aberdeen last week - and that can't happen again. There needs to be a response.

Aberdeen copped some serious flak for their performance at Dens Park, so there will need to be a reaction today.

The Dons opened with four wins in this tournament and beat Hearts in their league opener at Pittodrie, so last Saturday's weak display came as something of a surprise.

In a quirk of scheduling these two meet again after last weekend's Premiership win for Dundee at Dens Park.

The final score was 2-0 but the margin of victory could have been greater such was the hosts' dominance.

Joe Bevan set up the first, scored the second and tortured the Dons repeatedly, cutting inside from the right wing.

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After just two games there are no sides in the bottom tier on maximum points.

Elgin, Spartans and Forfar are the unbeaten teams in the division.

• Annan Athletic v Clyde
• Dumbarton v Edinburgh City
• Elgin City v Kelty Hearts
• Forfar Athletic v Stirling Albion
• Stranraer v The Spartans