Highland head coach Davie Carson says his players are out to produce another big home display when they host National 3 leaders Newton Stewart tomorrow.
Fourth-placed Highland are only three points away from the promotion places after a run of five straight league victories.
Carson has been impressed by his side’s ability to rise to some testing fixtures at Canal Park, with victories against Glasgow Academicals and Murrayfield Wanderers.
Although tomorrow’s opponents are eight points clear at the summit, Carson says his side is full of confidence.
He said: “The guys seem to relish the big games. We have learned a lot from the first half of the season and improved every week – we have got better and better since we beat Glasgow Accies at home in October.
“The Murrayfield Wanderers game a couple of weeks ago was another big test but we played really well and won that game as well.
“It was sticky down at Hillhead Jordanhill, where we had to grind out a result.
“At home we are playing some good rugby and running in tries.
“A big difference is the fact we are getting such a big crowd down at Canal Park since we moved to the new facility. Hearing the guys on the balcony really gives the players an extra lift.”
Highland suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands of tomorrow’s opponents in October when they squandered the lead before going down 31-19.
Carson, who has Stevie Murray back in contention but is without the unavailable Craig Findlater, added: “We were so disappointed with the way we performed in the second-half down there.
“We were leading at half-time but in the second half some sloppy mistakes lost us the game. They bullied us off the ball a bit. That’s certainly not going to happen this weekend.” Highland will be looking to make it a double success this weekend, with their under-18 team travelling to face Ayr away from home in the semi-finals of the National Youth League Cup.