Ross County manager Derek Adams has dismissed suggestions Motherwell are a team in transition and insists the Steelmen are as strong as last term.
Fir Park manager Stuart McCall guided Well to second place in the top flight last season but lost several key players in the summer.
Leading goalscorer Michael Higdon, Estonian international Henrik Ojamaa, Irish goalkeeper Darren Randolph and English midfielders Nicky Law and Chris Humphrey were among those to depart the North Lanarkshire club.
Adams attended Well’s 2-1 League Cup win at Livingston on Wednesday and was impressed with the players McCall recruited to replace them, not least Scotland international James McFadden.
He said: “Motherwell have lost a few players but it is not as if they have been weakened.
“They have been able to take in an Estonian international in Henri Anier, John Sutton, James McFadden and Stephen McManus – not a bad four players to come in.
“Lionel Ainsworth has come in for them and has a bit of quickness. Zaine Francis-Angol plays on the left and he has a quickness to him as well – although they have missed the electric pace of Chris Humphrey.”
He added: “I watched Motherwell against Livingston and they had the luxury of making five changes to their team.
“They had to play James McFadden from the start and it tells you about the quality of their squad.
“Paul Lawson came in as well and it shows they are full of experience through their spine.
“James was a top player when I played with him. I saw him make his debut.
“Steven Hammell and Keith Lasley being there has helped him as well, the three of them are very tight.”
Adams, who spent six years with Well as a player, has no doubt County can prove more than a match for McCall’s men on the road.
He said: “Motherwell are a strong unit but we are going there to win. We want to stay in the Premiership this season and see where we can go from there.
“It is what we look to do every year, to see how many points we can possibly get and then move forward.
“Anything else becomes a bonus and that is why we have been so successful over the years.”
Basic instincts, Page 62