Highland head coach Davie Carson has warned his side to be braced for the step up as they begin their National 1 campaign away to Cartha Queen’s Park tomorrow.
The Inverness outfit got their campaign off to a flying start when they defeated fellow National 1 side Watsonian 32-3 in last weekend’s Scottish Cup preliminary round tie at Canal Park.
Highland now dip into league action for the first time since their promotion from National 2 last term, however Carson is remaining level-headed ahead of the trip to Glasgow.
Carson welcomes back Oscar Baird from injury but Jonny Milton and Craig Findlater are unavailable, and the Highland boss said: “We always back ourselves at home, every away game is going to be really tough.
“This is league business now, and I think it will take a different attitude from everyone.
“We have had great preparation in pre-season, we learned a lot in the two weeks against Marr and Accies.
“Our win against Watsonian on Saturday took us in the right direction for starting the league.”
Highland defeated Cartha on their way to the National League Cup final last November, however he is taking nothing for granted this time around.
He added: “It was very close when we played Cartha down there in the cup last year. I think there was only one score in it, but we managed to scrape through.
“The boys have nothing to fear going down there because we know we have done it before.
“We are certainly a better side now, but they probably are as well.
“It would be great to get a winning start away from home. It would launch us into the league pretty well if we can get off the blocks early and get some points on board.”