Billy Dodds is looking to last season for inspiration in Caley Thistle’s bid to mount a late Championship title charge.
Inverness are eight points adrift of leaders Arbroath, with nine matches remaining.
The Highlanders have the opportunity to reduce that gap when they face Partick Thistle in a Friday night fixture at Firhill.
Inverness go into the match without a victory from their last 10 matches.
Dodds assisted Neil McCann on an interim basis at the tail end of last season when a run of six matches undefeated – including four straight victories – moved Inverness from relegation danger to the cusp of the promotion play-offs.
The Caley Jags boss insists the same sort of run is possible in the final round of fixtures this term.
He said: “I go back to last season here when we went on a really good run.
“We’re going to need that sort of run, but we need to do it now and then confidence will really flourish.
“There are 27 points to play for. We have to do our business. If we don’t start doing our business, we aren’t winning the title.
“If we start putting together a run of results, whether it be a few wins and a draw, or a few wins on the trot, we know what can happen in this league.
“The other thing that gives me hope is the results elsewhere. Teams are starting to think now, that they are getting close to the title.
“There’s the pressure side of it as well. If you can rein them back in again, and get them to within a game or so, there’s more pressure.
“It looks like it’s Arbroath and Kilmarnock just now, but I would like to add to that pressure.
“I know it’s going to be difficult, but we are capable.”
Firhill surface will be no excuse for Highlanders
Partick’s pitch is not in prime condition ahead of Inverness’ visit, with the Jags having shared their home venue with Queen’s Park this season.
Dodds insists the surface will not be an excuse for his side, adding: “I feel for the groundsman – there is nothing he can do.
“It’s two, sometimes three games a week on it just now, which is just a nightmare for them.
“We have to handle it. We are not going to start making excuses about the pitch.
“Thistle have played on it and picked up plenty points. We will be hoping to do the same.
“The grass was quite long on it last time, probably longer than we would have liked.
“We drew 0-0 and played really well, but there is no grass now, so we will just get on with it and hit it head on.
Dodds expects his only injury absentees to be midfielders Roddy MacGregor and Scott Allardice, with the Caley Jags boss pleased to have greater numbers to choose from.
He added: “We’ve been getting a few players back and we saw the difference Aaron Doran and Danny Devine made last week.
“We’re getting a squad back. Sometimes we’ve struggled to fill the bench.
“It isn’t an excuse, but it is good to have them – and we saw the difference at Hamilton.”
