Caley Thistle manager John Hughes reckons his side must be prepared to stand up to the grittier elements of tomorrow’s derby against Ross County, should the game dictate so.
The sides meet for the first time this season, with third-placed Inverness favourites at home against the Staggies, who sit bottom of the Premiership table.
With Caley Jags still unbeaten at home this season, Hughes hopes the tested formula of free-flowing football can produce another result but insists his side must be up for less glamorous contest as well.
Hughes said: “It is important to us we stick to our game plan, stick to our rhythm and our own style of play. We’re at home and will look to take the game to Ross County. That is the game plan but if it’s not the case and it’s one of those ugly derbies, like most of them are, then we have to adapt and go toe-to-toe.
“As long as we’re winning the football match, it will be a good day.
“We have to make sure we control the emotions, play the game in a proper spirit, and finish with 11 on the pitch. That’s the message we’re putting out to them. We will not do it if our emotions are all over the place. We have to be cool, calm and collected.”
The Caley Jags manager added: “It’s up to Ross County to employ any tactics they want to employ to try to stop us. All of the ingredients are there for it to be a cracker. Hopefully, it is, with good rhythm to it, end-to-end, and not like most derbies I’ve played in where you need to take the ball to hospital at half-time.
“But if it is like that, we have to make sure the points still stay here. We’re ready for anything.”