Algarve man Ryan Gauld is adamant Aberdeen can spring a Sporting shock even without star defender Scott McKenna on Thursday night.
Their Lisbon Europa League opponents will be down nine players and three members of staff - including boss Ruben Amorim - after a litany of positive Covid-19 tests ahead of the capital city clash.
Bookies still don't fancy the Dons at an outside 8/1 shot. And Derek McInnes will be without McKenna as his move to Nottingham Forest is set to be wrapped up soon, possibly before kick-off in Portugal.
But former Sporting starlet and Granite City native Gauld believes his hometown team will give his former club a real test in their Jose Alvalade Stadium.
He said: " Aberdeen had a lot of problems in their last game against Motherwell, but before then they had a lot of really good performances and results.
"I think Aberdeen will give Sporting a very good game.
"Even the loss of Scott McKenna to Nottingham Forest shouldn't weaken Aberdeen all that much.
"They will also benefit from all the doubts surrounding Sporting just now due to the pandemic.
"I believe it will be an even match and both teams will have opportunities to score goals.
"Sporting should beware of Lewis Ferguson, Scott Wright and Ryan Hedges in particular, all of them can make a real difference to them. "
