Caley Thistle manager John Hughes believes the Highland club have been put at a huge disadvantage by being forced to play Hibs tomorrow night, just four days before the League Cup final.
But the manager aims to turn a negative into a positive with the home game against Hibs giving his players the chance to recover from successive 5-0 league and cup defeats to Celtic and Dundee United.
Hughes is acutely aware any injuries or suspensions could ruin his side’s chances of beating Aberdeen to lift their first major trophy at Celtic Park on Sunday.
Midfielders Greg Tansey and Marley Watkins will be suspended after being sent off against United, but can play in the cup final.
The Caley Jags manager is less than impressed with the scheduling of the game and said: “When I think about the Hibs game, who did that?
“Maybe the SPFL will say there was no other day to play it, if so I will take it on the chin.
“I would rather not have had the Hibs game. It is advantage Aberdeen as they are sitting, resting up.
“What happens if we pick up red cards or injuries?
“Advantage Aberdeen. Give them the cup.
“There you go. Enjoy your couple of days off and go and play your golf.
“Do what you want while we still have to train and get prepared.
“We can’t even prepare for the cup yet or think about Aberdeen, we have still got Hibs to worry about.
“Yet there might still be a couple of things written in the stars.
“You know why? It could be a blessing in disguise those two players got sent off. Maybe it’s a blessing in disguise we are playing Hibs because we need the game and need to put something right. Maybe it’s going against us and it will just come right for cup final day.
“Those two players might come in on cup final day fresh as a daisy and one of them becomes man of the match.”
The 49-year-old felt the pain and embarrassment of losing 10 goals in two demoralising defeats.
He added: “It was very uncharacteristic of the players, but knowing the character and spirit in the dressing room we will come bouncing back – we have to.
“We are riding high in the league trying to stay in the top six and we have a cup final to look forward to.
“It is time for the players to roll their sleeves up. If we keep clean sheets we are not going to be beaten, it was comic book stuff against Dundee United.
“It is not just the de- fenders and the goalkeeper, defending starts right from the front.
“We have been playing teams who have really good ball retention and passing ability but so what? We can’t be cavalier, we have to keep our shape.”