Chris Maguire, the young Aberdeen striker, is confident that his side can beat Dundee United at Pittodrie this afternoon and keep the pressure on the teams above them for a third-place finish.

The 19-year-old, who has enjoyed an unprecedented run in the side in recent weeks, believes there is still a slender chance of such a finish and that it might all come down to the last game of the campaign, against Rangers at Pittodrie - now on May 22 - just as it did last season when Aberdeen clinched the bronze medal position by beating the Ibrox side.

United have got the better of Aberdeen at Tannadice this season, and beat them 4-1 at Tynecastle in the CIS League Cup semi-final, but Maguire holds no fears about facing them at Pittodrie.

He said: "When we've played United at Pittodrie we have been dominant, but we can't seem to beat them at Tannadice.

"Mathematically we can still get third spot. It's a tough one but it is possible, and as for Lee Wilkie and Darren Dods, well, I've played against them at Pittodrie they haven't coped well with the ball into feet towards me. I've managed to get past them."

Maguire's manager, Jimmy Calderwood said, meanwhile: "The season is not finished and if my counting is right, a win on Saturday would put us only two points behind United. Then they have two games left against the Old Firm.

"It is a tall order, but if we can win and we are the only side going for third place that does that, then we will be a lot nearer all the other teams."

Craig Levein, the United manager, said: "If we're being realistic, this game is a must-win if we're going to stay in with a chance of third place. The last time we went to Pittodrie a 2-0 win for the hosts was probably the worst we've played this season.

"We're going up there to have a go this time. Everyone is available and I've got great options, especially as our reserves have been flying lately and there are boys in that team chapping at the door."

Danny Swanson is again in contention for United after returning from suspension, and after watching his team-mates draw their last three matches he is determined to make an impact.

"It's a nightmare watching rather than playing because I'm not a good spectator," he said. "It has been brutal missing those three games, to be honest. One game would have been bad enough but three has been torture.

"What has been really annoying has been the times when we have been toiling in games and I've thought to myself that I could have made a difference.

"I felt that especially during the last home game against Hibs when they were leaving plenty of space but all I could do was kick every ball from the stand.

"I might have sparked something off but I couldn't influence the matches and that was the biggest punishment."