Caley Thistle manager John Hughes is reluctant to send new forward pair Miles Storey and Tobi Sho-Silva straight in at the deep end in tonight’s Premiership encounter against Hearts.
The two attackers last week joined Inverness on loan deals until January, with Storey arriving from Swindon Town and Sho-Silva joining from Charlton Athletic.
Hughes was forced to bolster his attacking options before the transfer deadline, with Caley Jags scoring just four goals in eight competitive games, with summer signing Dani Lopez on target just once.
The Inverness manager will not rush the new pair into the starting line-up and says they may need to be content with the role of impact substitutes as he seeks to give them a taste of Scottish football.
Hughes said: “They’re fit enough to start and we’ve worked them hard.
“If you ask them, they’d tell you that they were taken back by the intensity we train at.
“Will they start? It might be a wee bit early for them and it may be good for them to have a good look.
“But what have we got to lose? We’re still undecided and we’ll go over the work we’ve done to pick the best team to win the game.
“If it’s one of them, so be it. If not, they’ll have to be patient.”
Edinburgh-born Hughes is a lifelong Hibernian supporter, who has played for and managed the Easter Road club, and he is looking forward to renewing an old rivalry with the newly-promoted Jambos.
Hearts have made an excellent return to the top-flight with five wins from six matches and Hughes knows his side will be hard-pushed to end their winless start to the season at Caledonian Stadium.
Hughes added: “We’re more than capable of beating Hearts but we’re going to have to be at our best.
“I’m glad they’re back in the Premiership and, although I’ve locked horns with them from the other side of the city, I loved that challenge.
“I’ve always had that respect for their players, supporters and club. All those supporters that work on a Friday will still be there to support their club – we’re expecting more than 1,500 of them.
“They’ve had a wonderful start and they hit with a different bat to us, playing in front of 15,000 every game.”