Ross Draper still feels the raw anguish of Inverness Caley Thistle’s relegation disaster despite his summer defection.
But the Ross County midfielder, who crossed the Highland derby divide for an undisclosed six-figure fee, is confident his former club can regain a Premiership place next season.
At the time, Draper voiced grievance at the manner in which his transfer deal was concluded, after being ordered by Caley Thistle to table an official transfer request.
But the 29-year-old Englishman still keeps a close eye on his former team’s Championship progress and is willing John Robertson’s promotion drive to end in triumph come May.
All proceeds from tonight’s game (with a £5 entry fee) will be donated to the Maggie’s cancer charity.
Draper said: “It will be a good game to be involved in. We obviously haven’t had a Highland derby this season and the players – and the fans – miss it.
“It’s a brilliant idea for a great cause I know this club wholeheartedly supports.
“Things have been looking up for both clubs and that’s brilliant for the Highlands. I keep an eye on their scores. They have a settled side now and are keeping clean sheets.
“From what I’ve seen, they’re also looking very good going forward so it should be a decent game.
“We want to see both clubs up in the top league. It wasn’t nice what happened last year and I hated being involved in it.
“It hurts. I experienced it down south with Macclesfield and to go through it again last year was a horrible feeling.
“Results recently have been good for Inverness after a rocky start. There’s a lot of new players and a new manager – it’s going to take time.
“I think they can kick on and target the play-offs, but you never know. Nobody is running away with the Championship, so why not go all the way?
“It would be great for the city and the Highlands to get the derby back on a competitive basis next year.
“We’ve had six brilliant years of playing each other. I loved every derby game with Caley Thistle, win or lose, so to get that back would be just fantastic.”
Caley Thistle boss John Robertson is likely to give returning injury victims including Aaron Doran and Zac Elbouzedi a valuable 90 minute run-out among a strong squad heading through to Dingwall.
Home manager Coyle is, likewise, promising to field a powerful mix of first team regulars, recent substitutes and one or two young talents.
The County manager, promising no ordinary friendly, urging fans to rally behind cause and enjoy quality spectacle.
Coyle said: “It’s a great chance for both us and Inverness to get players on the field.
“I will involve a number of lads who started on Saturday and some, like Billy Mckay, Alex Schalk and Thomas Mikkelsen, who were on the bench.
“I know John Robertson and Brian Rice will also field a strong team. The great thing, over and above it being a derby, is that fans who pay a fiver know their money is going to a wonderful cause.”
