Caley Thistle manager John Robertson understands why forecasters of a Scottish Cup third round upset could look to his side’s trip to League 2 leaders Edinburgh City tomorrow.
Inverness are firm favourites for the trip to Aisnlie Park, having clocked up a run of 25 Championship matches without defeat.
The Highlanders will come up against a high-flying side in the capital however, with James McDonaugh’s side two points clear of Peterhead at the top of League 2 and fresh from having knocked out Arbroath and Alloa Athletic from the IRN-BRU Cup.
Robertson is wary of tomorrow’s opponents, and he said: “There are always going to be Scottish Cup shocks – and I’m sure all the managers from the top league don’t want to be the one.
“People will look at it and think Edinburgh City are flying, Inverness going down there could be a real banana skin and a real tricky one, and they are right. It will be.
“We are expecting a really tough game for a very good side. We are going to have to be at our very best to win this match and progress to the next round.”
Robertson will have right back Shaun Rooney back in his squad following ankle ligament damage, however the Caley Jags boss strongly dismissed any notion he will take the opportunity to reshuffle his side against lower league opposition.
Robertson added: “We will play our strongest available side. It’s as simple and straightforward as that.
“Anything else would be really disrespectful to Edinburgh City. I wouldn’t do that to any team.
“The Scottish Cup is the major cup tournament in Scotland. We were proud winners a few years back, we have got a proud record in it and we want to get as far as we can in this trophy.
“To play anything else than my strongest side would be a slap in the face to Edinburgh and I’m not prepared to do that.
“I’ve got too much respect for their management team and their players to even contemplate that.”
Robertson has been impressed by the rise of Edinburgh since they became the first side to be promoted to the SPFL via the pyramid play-offs in 2016, adding: “At their level they are as good as anything that’s going.
“They are showing their title credentials already. A lot of people thought Peterhead would run away with the league this year but Edinburgh are going great.
“They put that terrific run of league wins together, and then they showed their credentials again last week by knocking Alloa out of the IRN-BRU Cup.
“They have got a very proactive board which matches the proactivity of the cracking young manager they have got.
“They have taken a couple of seasons to establish themselves but they are there on merit having come through the leagues.”
