Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee insists Tuesday's Scottish Cup fifth-round replay with Raith Rovers is their most vital game of the season so far.

"This is hugely more important than Saturday," said McGhee, who was heartened by his side's dramatic 4-4 league draw with Celtic at the weekend.

"If we start with the same attitude we've shown recently then the likelihood is that we will score first.

"And then we can make life difficult for Raith Rovers."

The Dons get a second bite at the Fifers thanks to Gary McDonald's 95th minute leveller at Stark's Park nine days ago in a 1-1 draw.

Since that last-gasp goal, Aberdeen have turned in strong displays to draw 2-2 at Hibernian and share eight goals with Celtic.

"Against Raith Rovers the players thought they merited at least a draw and I think they finally thought 'we got what we deserved', and maybe that was a turning point," added McGhee.

"We had a good performance at Easter Road and again on Saturday.

MY SPORT: DEBATE Are Dons fans in confident mood?

"The feeling that we were being hard done by or unlucky has been lifted and now it's maybe our turn to get the rub of the green and that's a positive thing."

A trip to Dundee awaits the winners of Tuesday's replay at Pittodrie, meaning the Dons are two wins against First Division opponents away from a place in the semi-finals.

However, McGhee's side lost at Dens Park in the Co-operative Insurance Cup this season and the manager is taking nothing for granted.

"If we beat Raith Rovers, we know we're playing Dundee," he explained. "What we can't focus on is who we might play if we beat Dundee. That would be getting ahead of ourselves.

"I'll be in the dressing room trying as best I can to demand the same kind of performance that we got on Saturday. I think the players do have the bit between their teeth, so I think they will go out and start well.

"We can't fear them because of anything that's happened historically, about being knocked out of the cup by teams from the lower leagues."

Steven MacLean has made a telling impact since arriving from Plymouth on loan at the end of last month.

He has scored three goals in his last two games and McGhee was full of praise for the way the striker holds play up in the opponents' half of the pitch.

"In terms of the structure of the team and the way we want to play, we need someone that can develop the play for us and give us time to get men forward and get the back four out in a nice, tidy shape," McGhee said.

"Steven has that extra touch; he nurses the ball and that lets us get into position and get around him.

"It's an essential part of what a team who wants to pass the ball has to do and I think he does it brilliantly."

Raith Rovers warmed up for the replay with a hugely disappointing 4-0 home defeat to Inverness.

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