Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes admits he takes great pleasure in keeping pace with Rangers despite their major financial advantage.
Rangers travel to Pittodrie on Wednesday two points above the Dons in second place in the Ladbrokes Premiership.
Steven Gerrard has made 19 signings since he arrived at Ibrox, including January additions Steven Davis and Jermain Defoe, while McInnes failed to get a late deal over the line last Thursday.
Aberdeen lost key players such as Ryan Christie, Adam Rooney and Kenny McLean last summer but have accumulated the same 46-point total after 24 games that they did last season, on their way to a fourth consecutive runners-up spot.
“We’ve come out the transfer window maybe a bit tighter in numbers, but we feel with the players coming back we have got enough strength there to try and deal with the challenges ahead,” McInnes said.
“Rangers have made a couple of good signings and Rangers really have a strong squad. They’ve done a lot of good work this season with the resources they have.
“So it pleases me no end that despite all these differences and advantage they have in terms of size of squad and money they can throw at the squad and spend, it pleases me that we’re still in and around them, and certainly trying to compete against them, and hopefully we can do that on Wednesday night.”
Aberdeen had an indifferent start to the season but reached the Betfred Cup final and crept up the table in November and December.
“There was a lot of hullabaloo at the start of the season that Aberdeen weren’t going to do this or do that and it was important we just knuckled down and got on with the job and stayed quiet,” McInnes said.
“At the turn of the year we were where we normally are -on course to be plus-70 points at the end of the season. We are roughly where we normally are the past four or five seasons.
“We want to try make sure we have as strong a finish to the campaign as possible with the importance of winning key games.
“There’s still a lot to do, but we have a confidence and belief that we can finish the season strong.”
McInnes hopes to have top goalscorer Sam Cosgrove (back spasm) fit to face Rangers after he and goalkeeper Joe Lewis (head wound) went off against Hibernian.
Cosgrove sat out training on Monday but did some work on Tuesday.
McInnes said: “There’s still a wee concern but we’re hopeful he’s making those improvements. Likewise with Joe, he’s confident he’s going to be OK to play.”
