Team news ahead of Saturday's Scottish Premier League clash between Kilmarnock and Aberdeen at Rugby Park.

Kenny Shiels aims to protect Ryan O'Leary by dropping him to the bench for the game against the Dons.

The 24-year-old defender suffered cruciate ligament damage early in the season and only made his comeback a fortnight ago against Hibernian.

Striker Paul Heffernan (groin), defenders Zdenek Kroca (knee) and Manuel Pascali (broken leg) plus midfielder Garry Hay (knee) and Danny Buijs (hamstring) remain on the sidelines.

Aberdeen have no fresh injury concerns.

Manager Craig Brown will still be without a number of players with Rory Fallon, Rob Milsom, Clark Robertson, Stephen Hughes and Yoann Folly still absent.

Isaac Osbourne and Peter Pawlett are also set to miss out once more.

Killie (from): Bell, Toshney, Dayton, O'Leary, Nelson, Gordon, Fowler, Kelly, Racchi, Kennedy, Harkins, Shiels, Van Tornhout, Gros, Letheren, Johnson, Pursehouse, Sissoko.

Aberdeen (from): Langfield, Considine, Reynolds, Anderson, Clark, McManus, Rae, Jack, Fyvie, Vernon, Masson, Magennis, Megginson, Mackie, Smith, Arnason, Rogers, McArdle, Fraser, Brown.