Ross County co-manager Steven Ferguson is determined to capitalise on any tension applied to Partick Thistle by the home crowd at Firhill today.
Thistle have been riddled with inconsistency since their relegation from the Premiership last season, winning all three home matches so far but losing all four games on the road.
Pressure has started to mount on manager Alan Archibald from sections of the Jags support, with the seventh-placed Maryhill outfit already seven points adrift of Championship leaders Ayr United.
With the Staggies having defeated Dundee United 5-1 last weekend in what proved Csaba Laszlo’s final match in charge at Tannadice, Ferguson hopes to once again profit from any negative vibes in Glasgow.
Ferguson, who is without injured winger Michael Gardyne and skipper Marcus Fraser, said: “The same could have been said about the Dundee United game. If there’s that little edge around the stadium it can definitely go against you, if it’s your team on the receiving end of it.
“The fact we are the team going down to Firhill brings it back to that question of how you look at it. Is it an advantage they are at home? Or is it a disadvantage. Everybody’s spin on it can be completely different.
“What we see is an opportunity that if we do get ourselves in front, implement how we want to play and earn the right to play our way, we want to make it as difficult for Partick as we can.”
With both sides relegated from the top-flight at the end of last term, Ferguson remains wary of today’s opponents despite the Staggies making a stronger start to life in the second-tier.
County are five points ahead of the Jags ahead of today’s game, and Ferguson added: “It was really important to focus on making sure this was a clean slate, and a dust down and go again.
“Up until now we have done, but I emphasise again how early we are in the season. We have done nothing yet.
“The players are aware of that, and Stuart Kettlewell and I are very aware of that.
“It gives us an opportunity to go down there and try to win back-to-back games, that’s what we are looking forward to.
“Partick’s strengths are at home. Firhill is a difficult place to go and get a result.
“They will be looking to turn us over and we need to make sure we match their energy.
“Nobody is going to hand it to us, or just let us play. The emphasis will be on matching their enthusiasm and effort, we need to go down there and earn the right to play.”