Caley Thistle manager John Robertson knows today’s IRN-BRU Cup opponents Peterhead will have no reason to fear his side at Caledonian Stadium.
Inverness are favourites against the League 2 outfit but the Blue Toon have already shown their cup credentials with a shock 2-1 victory against Premiership side Hearts in the group stage of the Betfred Cup in July.
Robertson says the prospect of facing Championship opposition will not faze today’s opponents.
He said: “It’s not an easy game. We are at home and against a lower league team, so we expect to be on the front foot and take the game to Peterhead, but the danger is there.
“Their Betfred Cup section is all the warning we need. They finished second in a group that contained Hearts and Dunfermline and, of course, beat Hearts at home.
“We have to be on guard, we have to play the football we are capable of with the ball and also defend well.”
Robertson knows there will be plenty players in Jim McInally’s side eager to make an impact and he added: “We know the threat they have up front with Allan Smith and especially Rory McAllister, an ex-player of ours.
“He has nothing to prove but he will want to come back here and do well. They also have Jason Brown at the back, who will want prove that this club were wrong to let him go. That’s how these things work.”
With midfielders Charlie Trafford suspended, Jake Mulraney on international duty with Republic of Ireland’s under-21s and skipper Gary Warren sidelined with a fractured thumb, Robertson says he will field a full strength team.
He added: “We’re not in a situation to rest players. We have had a few boys injured but they are coming back, although we have picked up a few injuries as well.
“There is no thought in our mind right now to bring players in. If we are winning games and have very little injuries then yes we can rest players but we need to build momentum and we have injuries, so it’s not a consideration we have taken.
“We will play our strongest possible team because we want to give the competition the respect it deserves and we certainly want to give Jim McInally and his Peterhead side all the respect they deserve as well.”