Ross County midfielder Jonathan Franks knows his side’s fine home form will be crucial if the Staggies are to secure a top-six finish this season.
County have won 11 of its home 17 matches in all competitions although successive losses to Hearts and Celtic has allowed several teams to make up ground on the Dingwall side, who remain fourth in the Premiership but have played more games than the majority of teams below them.
With consecutive home fixtures against Hamilton Accies and bottom-placed Dundee United coming up, Franks is intent on getting the Staggies back on track in the seven games remaining before the split.
The Englishman said: “It’s all very tight. I looked at the table after Inverness beat Aberdeen on Monday and there are teams just behind us by a point or two with games in hand on us, but they still have Celtic and Aberdeen to play.
“It would have been nice to take a couple of points from our last two games but we have to now look to the games ahead and hopefully get three points on Saturday against Hamilton.
“We have to concentrate on the home games coming up, try our best to win them, and get what we can away from home that will stand us in good stead.”
Accies have won just one of its last 11 games, which came against fellow-strugglers Kilmarnock, but Franks reckons they have started to show signs of a revival.
County defeated Martin Canning’s side 2-0 in the Highlands in August, prior to a 3-1 win at New Douglas Park in December, and Franks knows Accies will be out to avenge the two losses.
The 25-year-old added: “Hamilton had a little bit of a dip, but they seem to have improved recently and they will be looking to get revenge on us because we have beaten them twice this season.
“They will come here looking for a result and we have to be ready for them.”
Franks has been in and out of the Staggies side since moving from English League 2 side Hartlepool United last summer, making 14 starts and nine substitute appearances, and believes every player must rise to the challenge of strong competition for places.
He said: “The manager brought in a lot of players in the summer and everybody is capable of playing. He could have one group of 11 one week then another 11 in the next game, it doesn’t make a great deal of difference who plays. I just have to be patient, take my chance when I get it and do a job for the team.”