Caley Thistle midfielder Nick Ross has warned his side cannot allow the recent run of poor form to continue if the Highlanders are to finish the Premiership season in third place.
Inverness are still on course to secure European football for the first time through their league position, although they can also qualify if they win next month’s Scottish Cup final against Falkirk.
But they have failed to win any of their last eight league games since a 2-1 victory at bottom side St Mirren on February 14.
Saturday’s opponents St Johnstone have moved to within four points of the Highlanders, while Dundee United – who travel to Caledonian Stadium twice before the end of the season – are six points behind.
Ross knows his side must improve if the Caley Jags are to finish in third place, having squandered the lead in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat against Aberdeen.
He said: “We’ve still got a lot of big games to play and we’re trying to finish third, so that’s the main focus now. St Johnstone are catching up on us. We’ve got a game in hand on them so if we win on Saturday, that will hopefully keep them away.
“But it’s down to us. If we keep throwing away points, other teams will catch us.
“It was a really frustrating result on Saturday.
“I felt in the first half we played well. We dominated the game, we were 1-0 up and in the driving seat before throwing it away.
“We just have to go again at St Johnstone.”
Ross was drafted in by manager John Hughes for Saturday’s game as a replacement for the suspended Ross Draper.
The Englishman serves the second match of his ban in Perth on Saturday, with Ross keen to get another chance to impress ahead of next month’s Scottish Cup final against Falkirk.
The 23-year-old added: “The cup final is a long way away and there are still a lot of games to play.
“I came into the team on Saturday and hopefully I’ve done enough to put myself in the manager’s mind. Ross is suspended again so hopefully I can keep my place.”