We're set for another cracking weekend of Scottish Premiership match-ups as we approach the tail-end of the season. The ambitions and hopes of clubs up and down the country could become more of a reality or come crashing down around them, such is the high stakes of some matches over the next few days.

The biggest match of the weekend is undoubtedly Rangers' trip to Aberdeen on Sunday, a match that the visitors desperately need to win if they're to have any chance of hauling in the Dons.

A win for Derek McInnes' side would effectively put them out of sight and all but confirm their status as Scotland's second best team for yet another season.

Pedro Caixinha has it all to do and after poor results against Motherwell and Kilmarnock, now faces the prospect of going three matches without a win - not an ideal situation to be in so early in his Ibrox career.

How does he go about achieving a result? This is our Rangers guide to picking up all three points in Aberdeen...

The big call: Hodson for Tavernier

Perhaps the biggest call Pedro Caixinha can make on Sunday is on the right side of defence where he has the option of playing Lee Hodson or going with James Tavernier. Hodson should be available following in an illness.

Hodson showed at Celtic Park recently that he has the defensive chops to cope with the best wingers in the division, keeping the unstoppable Scott Sinclair quiet for the majority of the game.

Tavernier on the other hand has shown defensive naivety at times, even though he's been an undoubted threat down the Gers' right hand side all season.

Against the likes of Niall McGinn though, Rangers need to protect their backline as much as possible and giving Hodson the nod on Sunday makes the most sense.

You could arguably offer double protection by playing Tavernier in right midfield, meaning he doesn't have the pressure of having to track back but still has the natural tendencies of a defender to help out.

The danger man: Jonny Hayes

With seven goals and eleven assists in the Scottish Premiership this season, no other Aberdeen has directly contributed to more goals in the league than Jonny Hayes.

He's a constant menace both on the wing and cutting inside to have efforts on goal himself and will be one of a number of key dangers for Rangers on Sunday.

Hayes though is arguably the Aberdeen star most likely to turn up on the big occasion. He loves the big matches, especially against the Glasgow clubs.

Don't forget it was Hayes who opened the scoring the last time the two clubs met at Pittodrie in September of last year.

The key performer: Emerson Hyndman

If Rangers are to get a result on Sunday then they have to build the game around 20-year-old Emerson Hyndman, who has rapidly emerged as the most talented midfielder at the club right now. On loan from Bournemouth, he's netted 4 times in 13 matches for the Gers.

He was substituted at half-time in the mid-week draw at Kilmarnock but should start again this weekend.

If they're to have any chance of a result then it's likely to be through the likes of him and Jon Toral, another on loan star who has impressed at Scottish Premiership level.

If they can get on the ball and supply the likes of Barrie McKay and Kenny Miller then Rangers certainly have a fighting chance of a victory, no matter what the pundits say.