Caley Thistle manager John Hughes knows his side’s cup successes will count for nothing against Highland League rivals Ross County tonight.
The Scottish Cup winners take on the Staggies in the quarter-finals of the League Cup at the Caledonian Stadium tonight.
Inverness lifted last season’s Scottish Cup with a 2-1 victory against Falkirk at Hampden in May, just 14 months after losing out against Aberdeen on penalties in the final of the League Cup in the club’s first major final.
Hughes is determined to lead his team to further cup success, but reckons past achievements are irrelevant ahead of their meeting with Jim McIntyre’s side.
Hughes said: “The cups have been good to us in the last few years, but what has happened in the past is history. It’s done and dusted.
“It doesn’t make anything easier. The first thing I said to the players when we came back after the summer was that it’s history and anyone who wanted to rest on their laurels could get their gear and go home.
“We want to see if we can repeat the successes we enjoyed last year. If we can win against County and have a semi-final to look forward to, then I would never bet against these players.”
Hughes has enjoyed a fine Highland derby record since arriving at Caledonian Stadium in December 2013, losing just once in seven encounters against the Staggies.
Caley Jags defeated County 2-1 in the league earlier this month, and Hughes knows the resurgent Staggies will be out for revenge.
He added: “Jim McIntyre has done a great job at County. They are a good team and I think we’re both closely matched.
“We have usually done better up there rather than at home, so I’m intrigued to see how we get on against them at our place this season.
“We need to be more ruthless and cutting in the final third, so we have been working on creating and taking chances. Hopefully it will come to fruition.”
While County were losing 2-0 to Hearts in Edinburgh on Saturday, Caley also suffered disappointment as they allowed 10-man St Johnstone to escape back down the A9 with a 1-0 win.
But despite having had just two days’ rest, Hughes is not worried about fatigue hurting his team’s chances.
He said: “It’s not a hardship having to play Saturday-Tuesday and possibly extra time.
“I look at people who have to work down in the shipyards. My father was a docker and my mother worked three jobs.
“That’s why when I come in here in the morning I think I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”