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Having begun the Championship campaign with one win and one defeat, the side is heading back to Inverness tomorrow, where last month they picked up a deserved point in the Premier Sports Cup.

Caley Thistle have begun their league season with successive draws, at home to Queen’s Park, and away at Arbroath, so Billy Dodds will be desperate to chalk up a first victory against his long-time friend, Jim McIntyre.

The pair have worked closely over the years, know each other’s thinking inside out, and Jim admits they will be desperate to get one over the other:

“We’re both so focused on set-plays, put great store in getting them right, so there’s no doubt we’ll each be looking for the bragging rights on that front.

“I like my teams to be well drilled, and so does Doddsy, and I suppose for everyone looking in from the outside that adds something to the fixture, but in truth, it’s not about him or me, it’s all about the two sets of players.

“That said, when I go to his office afterwards, it’ll be a bit sweeter if we’ve taken the three points.”

The team looked to be in control of last week’s encounter at Cappielow, even in the second half when chances were at a premium, only for one defensive lapse to cost the team dear.

The manager believes that has to be a lesson learned, and expects his players to guard against any repeat at the Caledonian Stadium:

“For the most part, I was pleased with how we played against Morton, but levels dropped in the second half, and we were undone by one slack moment at the back.

“What I want is for us to get back to playing the passing game I know we’re more than capable of. If the boys play tomorrow like they did last time we were up there, then that should be good enough to ensure we get a positive result.”

One man who won’t be involved is Blair Yule. The midfielder has been posted missing since picking up an ankle injury during the warm-up ahead of the St Johnstone friendly a month ago. The manager says it will be a few weeks yet before Blair is available:

“It’s really frustrating for Blair, and I feel for him. The ankle hasn’t responded as we had hoped, so we’re having to scale things back a little and be patient. Hopefully we’ll have a better idea by the end of the month.

“It couldn’t have come at a worse time, and the annoying thing is Blair never gets injured. But we’ll do things right, and he’ll be back as good as ever. It’s all about making sure he’s fully fit before we get him back into the team, and he’ll be a big asset when he returns.”

With Robbie Leitch having recovered from the hamstring problem which kept him out last weekend, Jim otherwise has a full squad to choose from, with recent signing Luis Longstaff in line to be involved.

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