Caley Thistle manager John Robertson will not be fooled by Arbroath’s part-time status ahead of today’s Championship trip to Gayfield.
The Red Lichties, along with Alloa Athletic, are the only semi professional teams in the second-tier, however the Angus outfit have enjoyed an excellent start since winning promotion from League 1 and currently sit just three points behind fourth-placed Inverness.
Robertson insists being part-time is no slight on the ability within Dick Campbell’s squad, and he said: “Especially at the start of a season, there is very little difference between part-time and full-time football. They will do their two hours on a Tuesday and Thursday.
“On Monday, you don’t do a lot, and Friday is game preparation, so they are the only two sessions they are really missing out on.
“They are packed with quality players who could easily step up to full-time football, but it doesn’t suit their lifestyle.
“These part-time lads will make a lot more money in their lives than the full-time boys, because they have got two jobs.
“It’s a far better quality of life for them and their family, but that doesn’t detract from the fact they are quality players.
“I don’t think you see any difference until possibly January or February, when you start to see full time football does have a slight effect, especially if midweek games start to come in.”
Arbroath go into the match in confident mood having won three of their last four matches, however Robertson insists his side travel to Angus intent on making amends for last weekend’s 3-0 reverse to leaders Dundee United.
Robertson, who is without attacking midfielder Roddy MacGregor with a broken thumb, added: “Right now, Dick’s team are flying, but we need to get back on track again. We’ve said that to the lads.
“There wasn’t much in the Dundee United game but we missed crucial chances at crucial times. They took theirs. We need to get back on a winning track.
“At this stage of the season, it isn’t fatal, but we need to amass as many points as we can from now until we head into the last quarter to give ourselves a fighting chance.
“We have to go to a tough place on Saturday. People talk about the wind although it is normally a very good surface.
“They are a team playing well, and doing well, but we want to pick up maximum points.”