It is hard to recall the stakes being higher in a Highland derby than they will be this weekend.
There have been some nice quirks that have added an incentive to recent encounters: Inverness rained on County’s trophy parade at Dingwall last season, while they also won the 50th fixture between the sides earlier in the campaign. County’s quarter-final defeat of Inverness was also a significant step in the Staggies’ path to winning the League Cup.
But not for some time has there been the same edge as there will be in Saturday’s Caledonian Stadium encounter.
Both sides go into the game knowing not only victory is crucial, but the consequences of defeat for the rival are so bruising at such a decisive stage of the season.
Recent form favours the home side, whose only league defeat in their last five matches came at the hands of champions-elect Celtic. During that run there have been impressive results against Rangers and Hearts, however County have shown they can rise to the occasion in some of their bigger games, and that notably includes triumphs in both derbies so far this season.
Jim McIntyre’s men are four points ahead of Inverness which is undoubtedly the preferable position, however Richie Foran will be urging his players that the pressure is off them, and that the Dingwall side should be looking over their shoulders.
A draw would not be a disaster for either side, but don’t expect that to be in anybody’s thinking come Saturday afternoon. Both have struggled to keep clean sheets this season, so they will both sense the opportunity to get at each other, while the 10 goals shared from the previous two matches also offers hope of another entertaining affair. The performance in front of goal of each team’s main attacking outlet – Billy Mckay for Inverness and County’s Liam Boyce – is almost certain to be key in deciding this fixture.
Nothing will be irreversible regardless of the outcome, but the psychological prize of victory in the first top-flight Highland derby with serious relegation implications for both teams is massive, while all eyes will be on how the losing side can respond after the international break.
It could be a cornerstone moment in determining the top-flight future of both Highland clubs and it has all the makings of a classic.
