Caley Thistle chief executive Scot Gardiner insists he is not surprised the Highlanders have been handed two away games against Hearts in the Championship next season.
Inverness will make the first of two trips to Tynecastle in their fourth league fixture on November 7, in a shortened 27-game campaign in which teams will play each other only three times.
Caley Jags begin their season away to Dunfermline on October 17, followed by back-to-back home games against Ayr United and Arbroath ahead of the trip to Edinburgh.
Gardiner had hoped for two home games against the newly-relegated Jambos in order to maximise gate revenue from the large travelling support following Robbie Neilson’s side.
Gardiner says he is not surprised Inverness, who voted against the SPFL’s successful resolution to end last season, were only handed one home fixture against Hearts which is scheduled for February 27.
Gardiner said: “We are not surprised we have got Hearts away twice and at home once. We thought the computer might come out with that, and similarly with other ones.
“It’s something tangible to aim for now. We can start looking at preparation for the season, plotting our travel and transport and all the things we require to do when we get the normal fixture list through.
“It gives the manager and his backroom team time to start working and plotting what we are going to do.
“It’s going to be a very interesting season, shortened as it is.
“A good start is going to be imperative and there is nothing there that would make me think we couldn’t have a good start.”
Although Inverness finished second last season, Hearts begin the new campaign as major favourites for the Championship title following their relegation from the top flight.
Gardiner, who previously worked as the Jambos’ chief executive, was at Tynecastle when they last won promotion from the second-tier by a 21 point margin in a year in which Rangers were in the same division.
Current Caley Jags manager John Robertson was also working for Hearts at the time, and Gardiner says they will be driven by the underdog tale.
He added: “Dundee United had a huge budgetary advantage on everyone last season, and Hearts have got an even bigger budgetary advantage.
“I was having a friendly chat with Ann Budge, and reminding her the last time Hearts were in the Championship, everyone said it was a stick on Rangers would run away with the league. The rest was history.
“We have been fifth three seasons ago, just missing out on the play-offs on the last day. We were third two seasons ago, and second for most of the season last year.
“The club and the team have shown consistency in improving, and we are not going into it to play for second place.
“John and I have discussed that as well. He was obviously there at the same time, so we will take that spirit of 2015 with us into this campaign.”
