Caley Thistle midfielder Sean Welsh reckons winning the Championship is a harder task than when he did it with Partick Thistle.
Welsh was part of a Jags outfit which secured promotion to the top flight in 2013 after finishing 11 points clear of Morton to secure top spot in what was then the First Division.
Former Hibernian and Falkirk player Welsh expects a far closer title race this time around.
He said: “It has definitely become a tougher league.
“It’s very competitive – any team in this league can take points off each other.
“We were by far the best side at the time we won the league with Partick Thistle. Morton had a good experienced side but we were the young side that was the strongest in the league.
“I wouldn’t say there’s one team that’s stronger than everyone in this league now. There are some teams that have good squad depth and strength, but on their day anyone can beat anyone.
“We have had a run of draws now, we just need to put a run of wins together and we will be right up there.”
Inverness are aiming to end a run of seven straight draws when they face Thistle, who were the last team Caley Jags defeated in a 3-2 victory on September 15.
Although his side are now 10 points behind leaders Ayr United, Welsh believes his side remains in the mix.
He said: “We can’t really dwell on it. It’s not our objective to draw games, we go into games to win them.
“It just so happens we are not getting games over the line at the moment but we will look to rectify that this Saturday.
“As long as we can get back to winning ways as quickly as possible, we are still in the pack and that’s where we want to stay.”
Welsh will return to Firhill for the first time since leaving the Jags in 2017 this weekend, with the 28-year-old wary of his former club despite new manager Gary Caldwell still searching for his first win since replacing Alan Archibald last month.
Welsh added: “I had good times at Thistle. In my first year there we won the Championship and we also got top-six in the Premiership in my last year there.
“They have got a new manager in and he’s probably trying to put his own stamp on the team.
“He will be wanting to rectify Saturday’s 5-1 defeat against Morton – especially at home. We need to be ready for it because they will definitely be up for it.
“There has been a large turnover of players, even since I have left, but I have still got a few friends there. They have some good players and on their day they can be a good side. We need to be ready for that.”
