Ross County co-manager Steven Ferguson hopes rivals Caley Thistle can join them in the Premiership next season.
Inverness’ bid to secure promotion to the top-flight continues when they host Dundee United in the first leg of their play-off semi final tie tonight, having defeated Ayr United 4-2 on aggregate in the previous round.
County have already secured their place among Scotland’s elite following their Championship title winning campaign, and Ferguson wants the Highland derby to become a top-flight event next term.
Ferguson said: “From a really selfish point of view I would love to see Inverness in the Premiership with us.
“The six games we had this year were excellent for the area. They got the most people through the gate for both clubs.
“Every game was a proper game, so why would you not want more of them?
“I’m not so big on the one-upmanship of us being in the Premiership and them in the Championship.
“I would much rather that we had the experience we had in the derby games this season.
“I’ve played in enough of them, but it was certainly a different feel to being on the sideline managing.
“For football reasons I would love the derbies to be there.
“It’s another home game for the two of us, another one where the supporters don’t need to travel.
“It’s good for the Highlands – of course it is.”
Inverness travel to Tannadice for Friday’s second leg, with the Premiership’s second bottom team awaiting the winner of the tie next week.
Should Caley Jags succeed in their quest for promotion they must negotiate six play-off games in the space of three weeks, however Ferguson feels John Robertson’s men possess the ability to come through the busy schedule.
He added: “I would never underestimate Inverness with the team they have got and the way they play.
“It is weighted against them though. I think it has been well documented in the press that if you are in that third versus fourth play-off, how difficult it is to then play six games in three weeks to get promotion.
“Inverness are more than capable, and John Robertson is a wily old fox when it comes to preparing his teams for certain occasions.
“They have got the players to really hurt any team they play. I would not underestimate Inverness at all.”
