Regular readers of this column will know I’ve been a fan of Friday night football for a long time and we’ve been privileged to cover them extensively on BT Sport.

This week, we have one of the most high profile ties of them all as Aberdeen welcome Celtic at Pittodrie.

It is not often you get 2nd v 1st on a Friday night. First of all, you have to say hats off to the police for letting this go ahead as sometimes they can have their doubts over such a fixture at this time. It should be a really good spectacle.

Granted, there’s nothing on the line in terms of the final placings but there is a lot to get our teeth into when you think of Celtic’s overall season.

Fans of the Parkhead club will have thought for a while that if their team are going to lose a domestic game this campaign, then this is where it is most likely to happen.

Aberdeen have not been able to lay a glove on Celtic this season. That’s something will rankle with Derek McInnes. He will think they should be able to get one over Celtic on their day, so why not here?

It would get people talking if they did it.

On the back of a week where Brendan Rodgers has won manager of the year and Celtic have done a clean sweep of the PFA awards, he will absolutely want to get over this hurdle. He will feel if they get beyond Aberdeen in this game then it’s a 99.9 per cent chance they will be the Invincibles of Scottish football.

The Premiership clash also doubles up as a dress rehearsal for Scottish Cup final. Aberdeen have a score to settle given how they were well beaten in the Betfred Cup final.

There are story lines, there’s a lot of interest. Celtic will know they are in the game here and Aberdeen will want to remind Celtic that they will be no soft touch come the Scottish Cup final in a few weeks.

If Aberdeen can end this unbeaten run and win the cup, then it’s an incredible season for them. It’s easier said than done, though.

Brendan is a very diligent planner and he would have looked at this fixture and given it the attention it deserves. On the back of making one or two changes to his team for the victory over St Johnstone at the weekend, this Friday should be a different story.

It will be important to him to have players in form for the cup final. He may want to go out all out against Aberdeen and at home to Hearts on trophy day.

This is the one, though, he will want his full army out there on the pitch. You will see everyone available come back.

It may be in a different competition and two weeks early, but the outcome of this game can have an impact on the mood in both camps for the final. If Celtic were to win well, then what a statement it would be knowing they are meeting in a few weeks.

Similarly if Aberdeen win then that will be a huge morale booster for the Dons players.

The treble is such a motivating factor for Celtic. It’s a chance to be up there with the greats. Celtic will be utterly motivated and still feel they have a point to prove.

There is a gulf between the teams but at home with the backing of their own fans at Pittodrie, in their last home game, Aberdeen should be a real force for the visitors to deal with.

It will be a different Aberdeen and Celtic team we see next season. Aberdeen know they do need to freshen up while Brendan will of course add to his arsenal.

All of this makes for a captivating snapshot on Friday between the two best sides in Scotland.