The history books show Ross County’s players have it all to do to avoid relegation from the Premiership.
Jim McIntyre’s side is on 12 points, six adrift of both Motherwell and St Mirren at the foot of the league. And to beat the drop, County must become the first side in a decade to recover from having been bottom of the pile in mid-February.
Livingston was the last club to claw itself out of the position County find themselves in, when they ensured Dundee went down in 2005, although the Dark Blues had been selling off every player it could after building up massive debts during the era of players such as Fabian Caballero, Scotland international Craig Burley and Georgia international captain Giorgi Nemsadze.
Only Dundee United have also survived on merit having been bottom at this stage in 2001, with St Mirren going down on that occasion.
The Tangerines also climbed off the foot of the league two years later, but their efforts were irrelevant as bottom-placed Motherwell stayed up due to First Division winners Falkirk not having a suitable stadium.
Despite the extent of the task facing the Staggies, McIntyre remains hopeful his side can beat the drop, highlighting the fact its relegation rivals are not yet out of reach. The Dingwall side has won just two league matches all season and things must change quickly if other teams are to be dragged into the mix.
The Staggies will move within three points of Motherwell if they defeat the Steelmen in Saturday’s crucial match at Victoria Park, and McIntyre knows the importance of the game.
He said: “The three clubs competing for survival just now have not shown any consistency, and that’s why we’re still at the bottom end of the table. The results don’t lie.
“For me it’s always been about which team could put a run together and which teams is going to get back-to-back results.
“That’s key to having the chance to gain the points back and it’s what we’ve got to try to do.
“It’s going to be a really tough game on Saturday. Motherwell have made new signings, so have we.
“Both teams are going to be desperate to win.
“Motherwell’s players and management know a result for them would make it really hard work for us.
“Likewise, we know three points would pull it really tight again.
“The onus is on us, and we’ve got to accept the responsibility and show courage to go out there and get the job done against Motherwell and others.”