Caley Thistle manager Richie Foran reckons other teams should be the feeling the pressure rather than his own side, despite the Highlanders sitting bottom of the Premiership table.
Inverness face a sixth-placed Partick Thistle side sitting 10 points above them at Firhill today, with Caley Jags in need of points in order to stave off the threat of their first relegation since 2009.
With a cluster of teams sitting between the two sides that meet in Glasgow this afternoon, Foran is hoping others will be feeling the heat in the bid to avoid the drop.
He said: “I try to keep the players relaxed and keep the so-called pressure away from them at times. Naturally, some players will feel it more than others but Partick Thistle aren’t a million miles above us and they will be looking over their shoulders at teams they are coming up against.
“It is not just us feeling pressure. We have to look forward. We can only go one way in the table and that’s up – and I believe we will.
“It’s a big challenge down there. We know what we’re up against and we need to be ready for a fight. Partick are a really strong, physical team.
“They have players up front like Kris Doolan and Chris Erskine who can score goals. We’re in for a tough day at the office but we’re looking fresh.”
Caley Jags will be without midfielder Jake Mulraney, who is still to shake off a hamstring injury, along with midfielder Aaron Doran and goalkeeper Ryan Esson, while midfielder Ross Draper and defender Carl Tremarco are suspended.
Foran is pleased with the squad available to him having had his options curtailed for much of the season.
He said: “We’ve got 21 fit players and competition all over the park. There’s a freshness about them after their couple of days off. There’s no nerves, just excitement.
“We’ve a lot of players back from injury. I’m quite excited about this.
“We have a few defensive options now and it can only help. It only brings the level of training up another notch. Having Kevin McNaughton back as well is great. He’s looking like he hasn’t missed any of the season.
“He’s looking fresh and isn’t too far away from being available to start for us.”