Caley Thistle manager John Robertson is putting the onus on keeping Dunfermline behind them in the race for the play-offs – rather than catching today’s opponents Ayr United.
Inverness are fourth, but have the opportunity to leapfrog Ayr with a victory over the Honest Men at Somerset Park today.
Dunfermline are six points behind the Caley Jags in fifth but have a game in hand, with any slip-up giving them the opportunity to claw themselves closer to the play-off positions.
Just a point separates Caley Thistle and Ayr but Ian McCall’s side have two games in hand, with the sides finishing third and fourth also scheduled to play each other in the first round of the play-offs.
Robertson said: “It didn’t go our way against Ross County and we just have to brush ourselves down for another vital game.
“The good thing is the games are coming thick and fast, so we have eased the lads in so we can be ready for another tough match at Ayr.
“It’s not any more huge than Ross County was and it won’t be any more huge than the Morton game.
“It is huge in respect of Dunfermline behind us – we need to keep ahead of them. Ayr are battling for third and fourth, but there’s not a massive advantage if you are third or fourth, but we have got to make sure we are in one of those two spots and don’t finish in fifth as we did last year.”
Inverness will be without suspended midfielder Charlie Trafford following his dismissal against County on Tuesday, with fellow midfielder Sean Welsh likely to miss the remainder of the season with a metatarsal injury.
Robertson added: “There will be changes. There’s a couple of injuries. We’ll play our strongest possible 11. We have an enforced absence in Charlie Trafford and that will mean a change in central midfield, while I would think the only prospect Sean Welsh has of playing this season is if we reach the Scottish Cup final or the play-off final.
“It’s a blow to the team and the player because he has been terrific for us.”
Robertson insists next weekend’s Scottish Cup last semi final against Hearts is at the back of Caley Jags’ minds, and he added: “We have to distance ourselves from that. The good thing is there is no midweek game ahead of it.
“The total focus is on Ayr United this week. We fully respect Ian McCall and his players. We were positive down there last time and intend to be just as positive again.
“Then, once this game is over, we’ll re-focus on Monday and start our preparations.”
