It might lack the passion and fury of Old Firm or Edinburgh derbies, but John Hughes will still call on his Caley Thistle players to keep their discipline in tonight’s game between Inverness and Ross County in Dingwall.
The 49-year-old former Hibs and Celtic defender still feels the pain of losing at home to the Staggies on New Year’s Day and has challenged his team to make amends in this resche- duled league game.
He said: “It is a derby match and the two teams want the bragging rights.
“We are due Ross County one. They came here and picked our pockets a wee bit.
“We know the importance of the game to the supporters – it is fantastic for the Highlands.
“I have been involved in other derby matches where it gets a bit hostile and football gets left on the backburner.
“We are more than capable of going there and picking up the three points.
“I will be saying to players they need to control their emotions and they can’t let things get to them.
“The best players on the park are cool, calm and collected.
“We need to be disciplined in our tactics and if we do that it is all I can ask of the players.”
Hughes has been impressed with the Staggies recruitment drive in January but wants to arrest County’s ascent of the table this evening.
He added: “I have seen a lot of County and the likes of Yoann Arquin, Filip Kiss and Jordan Slew are good players.
“There is a wee bit more of a physical presence about them.
“All their signings have done very well.
“Derek Adams will probably be disappointed his recruitment at the start of the season did not quite work out.
“He has been fortunate enough to get the opportunity to bring in new players and they have blended in well.
“If they can get a bit of lady luck and get a run of games together I don’t see any reason why they should not get into the top six.
“We will give it our best shot and see where it takes us.
“I very much doubt there will be many changes from the St Johnstone game.
“It was important there were no injuries from Saturday.
“We will pick the team accordingly to win the match.”