Brora Rangers attacker Zander Sutherland and his Cattachs team-mates have no intention of relinquishing the Highland League title.
Richard Brittain’s Brora are two points clear at the top, but Cove Rangers and Formartine United both have two games in hand and meet in a crucial encounter at Harlaw Park on Wednesday.
Sutherland knows his side must rely on favourable results elsewhere to lift a third consecutive title, but is focused on winning his team’s last three league games – starting with today’s north derby encounter against Wick Academy.
Sutherland said: “There’s still a lot to play for. Cove have still got a couple of difficult games – Formartine on Wednesday and Turriff at the end of the season.
“We’re not out of it. It’s out of our hands, but all of us in the changing room still believe we can go on to win it.
“We’ve won the title two years in a row. It’s getting more and more difficult to win it a third year, but we’ve got good characters in the changing room to go and do that. Hopefully it can continue and we can push for the play-offs and see where it goes from there.
“It was nailbiting stuff at the end against Huntly, but it just shows our character again that we managed to pull through to get the 4-3 win.
“All games are difficult at this stage of the season so it was a good three points.”
Brora beat Wick twice at Harmsworth Park last season – a 2-1 win in the North of Scotland Cup followed by a 1-0 league victory – and Sutherland is determined his team will retain the upper hand.
The 28-year-old added: “Wick will raise their game, like they always do, and so will we.
“But we’re looking forward to it. Hopefully we can go up there and continue winning games and beating them up on their own pitch.”
Academy manager Gordon Connelly said: “It is a great game to finish our home programme.
“I’m sure both sets of supporters will be relishing this one as much as the players.
“We are under no pressure and will be going all out to win the derby, as will Brora, so it should be a great game.”
