Inverness manager Terry Butcher believes his side can take a major step towards securing their place in the top half of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League with a win over St Mirren.
The Highlanders travel to Paisley on Saturday hoping to break through the 30-points barrier with victory over the SPL strugglers. Second-bottom Saints face a fight for survival and Butcher is determined to ensure Caley Thistle do not find themselves embroiled in a relegation battle following their return to the top flight last summer.
He said: "We will be driven on by the desire to get three points and get over 30 points and then see where we are because teams are chasing us and catching us."
Butcher added: "We're still in fifth. We are still hanging onto fifth, but we need to pick up points just to try to consolidate and stay in that top six.
"St Mirren are where they will feel is the wrong end of the table for them. We've been there - we know what it's like.
"We don't want to get sucked down there. We don't want to scrap and fight. We want to be in the top six - simple as that.
"Saturday could be a good step for us to try to secure that top six."
Inverness have not been in league action since the 2-0 defeat to Aberdeen on January 26 but head into the weekend's game boosted by a 5-1 win over Morton in the Scottish Cup.
"We've got the confidence back," added Butcher.
"I feel as though we've had a long breather. We've got that second wind and the newcomers have helped revive that. We've still got great options and great hunger within the squad."
Source: PA
