Ross County manager Derek Adams has been repeatedly cagey about his side’s First Division title chances, but Caley Thistle midfielder Russell Duncan believes the Staggies are one of the main contenders for promotion this season.
Duncan feels County are attempting to gain a psychological advantage over their rivals by playing down their title chances.
Both Inverness and County trail leaders Dundee after a goal-less draw in Saturday’s Highland derby at Victoria Park.
The Dens Park men lost at Airdrie but are still in pole position to go up and Duncan does not think the dismissal of Jocky Scott will necessarily harm the Dundee title bid.
He said: “Every team goes through a bad spell.
“Dundee are having their bad spell at the wrong time but they still have games to play where they will be confident they can pick up points.
“The rest of us are still chasing them. While they are in the lead they are still favourites for the league.
“For me it is mind games when Ross County say they are not in the title race and it doesn’t work.
“If they are honest with themselves they know they are in the hunt.
“We are near the end of March and they are still in with a chance of winning the league. For me they are in the title race.
“I think we were 15 points off Dundee are one point, although we had games in hand over them.
“I would rather have the points in the bag but we have chipped away at them and we are on a good run and hopefully it will continue on Tuesday against Airdrie."
Duncan knows Inverness have to maintain their good form if they are to keep up their promotion challenge.
The Caley Jags are now 12 games unbeaten in the league after gaining a point against County. They are three points behind Dundee with County three points further back but with two games in hand.
Duncan added: “To go to your title rivals and get a point is not a bad result. We kept a clean sheet and kept our good run going.
“We did not play particularly well but we defended well and we could have sneaked it at the end with Robert Eagle's chance.
“We could still be one bad result away from being out of the title race. But we have had the belief from day one, even though we had a new team.
“It took us a while to get going but I think everyone has seen over the past few months we are a very good team and on our day we can beat anyone."