Ross County host a Kilmarnock side without a permanent manager today but Staggies manager Jim McIntyre does not believe the Ayrshire side will be disadvantaged.
Assistant Lee McCulloch has taken caretaker charge since Lee Clark’s departure for English League One side Bury and remains the favourite to be handed the job on a full-time basis.
McIntyre was an interested observer as Killie squandered the lead before going down 2-1 against Motherwell last Saturday but in spite of the defeat he saw enough to suggest today’s opponents will carry plenty threat at Victoria Park.
McIntyre said: “There’s been a wee bit of continuity for them. Lee has the respect of the players and has been doing a good job.
“I went to watch Kilmarnock on Saturday and they were excellent in the first half and equally Motherwell were very good in the second half.
“It was a strange game in that way but I could see Kilmarnock were playing with a bit of confidence, especially at home.
“They won’t be coming here downbeat because they’ve lost. They did a lot of things well within the game.”
Midfielder Christopher Routis has returned to training following a hamstring injury which has kept him out since January.
Today’s game is likely to come too soon for the Frenchman, however, with County aiming to move above eighth-placed Killie with a victory.
McIntyre added: “He’s coming along great. He trained with us for the first time on Thursday after six weeks out. It’s been a frustrating period for him.
“We spoke at the start of the season that he was learning the midfield position, having been brought up as a centre back. But that’s where he sees himself playing and that’s where I see him playing.
“He’ll get better the more games he gets in there, with more experience of situations and how to handle them. He’s got a goal in him and from the centre of the park we’re looking for our midfielders to chip in with a few goals.”
Staggies forward Liam Boyce, meanwhile, has been called up for the Northern Ireland squad for their World Cup qualifier at home to Norway on March 26.