NO-ONE will need reminding that the last time Aberdeen and Rangers met in the north-east an almighty brouhaha broke out between the fans, bringing their festering hatred back into sharp focus.

It ended an apparent hooligan hiatus from the dark days of the 1980s, when casual crusaders caused all kinds of mob-handed mayhem in and around the grounds, with the match itself of peripheral interest. To that end, preventative - if not entirely drastic - measures have been taken by the security specialists; with an earlier kick-off of 12.30pm, the visiting allocation almost halved from 4000 to 2400, new segregation procedures implemented, and stewards urged to be extra vigilant.

The adage about prevention being better than cure could not have been more appropriate when used in the context of this poisonous atmosphere.

Already several dispatches have been released through various means by both clubs with a common, even unified, theme. The preparations over, there will still be much gnawing of nails by the likes of Lawrence McIntyre, Rangers' operations executive, and his Pittodrie counterpart, John Morgan, when the fans start filtering into the stadium.

The television cameras - they showed Robbie Winters being struck by a coin and picked up the general rampaging that resulted in a 70-year-old being assaulted and the players leaving the field for 20 minutes - will again be primed to turn to the terraces at the merest hint of an outbreak, but it is hoped sufficient evasive action has been taken to defuse a repeat explosion.

Alex McLeish, having been supported by both sets of fanatical followers, was urged to play peacemaker by the erstwhile Aberdeen captain, Derek Whyte, in the aftermath of the previous Pittodrie encounter but that would be akin to convincing the fire brigade union that 11% is a more than reasonable pay hike.

Many have tried and failed to bring some decorum to a situation every bit as hostile and volatile as the Old Firm rivalry, especially since the Neil Simpson incident of 14 years ago, but trying to reason with the unreasonable is invariably a hopeless exercise.

''I would rather they sang their songs than used their fists,'' said Bert Konterman, Rangers' eternal pacifist, yesterday. ''It was terrible to watch because there are innocent people and children at risk.

''I have seen it happen once before when I was with Willem II playing against Utrecht, and hopefully this won't happen for another 10 or 20 years.''

While Konterman is happy to offer his opinion on any current affairs, sporting or otherwise, managers always have been more comfortable discussing tactics and selections than security issues. Of late, an Aberdeen goal has been as rare a sight as a Green Goddess. Unable to find the net in half of their 22 games so far, and with nothing to show for their last four league outings, these are barren times. Rather ominously, it should also be noted that six games have passed since they last breached Rangers' rearguard and more than five years since they last won in a Premierleague match against them.

Not even Mark Twain would dare debate the validity of these statistics.

With McLeish having arrived in Aberdeen prematurely, to attend a funeral, it was left to his trusted lieutenant, Andy Watson, to ponder his own return to Pittodrie. Changed days from when he was an integral part of the club's success, but a welcome return to his home town, none the less.

''I look forward to seeing some old faces. but I can say the same about three or four clubs,'' he said of his well-travelled playing days.

There will be some old faces in the Rangers squad this afternoon that the fans have not seen for a while. Christian Nerlinger makes another attempt at a comeback having been plagued by injury since signing from Borussia Dortmund 18 months ago, while Neil McCann is poised for only his fourth appearance of the season. Neither is likely to start the match but their inclusion, along with other injury doubts Lorenzo Amoruso, Craig Moore, and Ronald de Boer, has given McLeish unprecedented resources since taking charge.

With Peter Kjaer out injured, this is the last thing the hapless David Preece would have wished for having already shipped seven against Celtic.