Caley Thistle manager John Robertson is hopeful both his side and Ross County can secure promotion to the Premiership this season.
The Staggies lead the Championship and will aim to extend their gap above Dundee United to five points when they make the trip to Caledonian Stadium tonight, in the first of two games in hand over Robbie Neilson’s men.
With County winning the race to secure automatic promotion, Inverness also have their own promotion agenda, with Robertson’s side fourth and on course for a play-off spot.
Robertson feels both clubs returning to Scotland’s top-flight would be a huge boost for the north of Scotland, and he said: “Both Highland clubs have been in the Premiership for a long time – they have been fixtures.
“Unfortunately we have both been relegated for football reasons.
“I always believe we need Premiership recognition in the area. If it’s not going to be us and County go up, that’s fantastic for the area.
“Obviously we want to be there as well.
“The good news is there are two slots available. One could go up as the champion, and the other one could come up through the play-offs.
“We want to get back up by whatever route possible, we said that at the start of the season.
“Ross County will be exactly the same. I think they are already guaranteed a play-off spot, but they will want to win the title.
“They are within touching distance of it, and they will see that as the best and quickest route straight back up.
“For us, it would be via the play-offs and that’s what we want to be involved in.”
County have lost their last two league matches, including a 1-0 loss to bottom side Alloa Athletic on Saturday, however Kettlewell insists there will be no knee-jerk reaction from the Dingwall men.
He added: “I don’t think we’re on a horrendous run. Since Christmas, most teams in the league would probably want our record.
“Dundee United lost as well which only goes to show it isn’t easy to just turn up and win games at this stage in the season.
“The clubs at the top end of the table are the ones who had a good start to the season and, at this stage, it is about churning out results. It isn’t going to be pretty.
“You just have to find a way of winning games of football and I wouldn’t change our position for anybody else’s.
“The positive is it is another game down. Dundee United now have five to play while we have seven.
“They lost, which is a positive for us. Steven Ferguson and I look at it as an opportunity missed, but we’re not going to dwell on it.
“What we look forward to is a derby match live on telly tomorrow.”