Richie Foran has warned that Inverness may have to be patient to end 2010 on a high against in-form Kilmarnock.
Caley Thistle host Killie at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium eager to consolidate their fourth-placed position in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League. Key to an impressive first half of the newly-promoted side's SPL campaign has been their away form, which included a 2-1 win at Rugby Park in October.
But Foran said: "We were lucky to get out of there with three points. They controlled a lot of the game and passed the ball very well. We've got to be patient. Even though we're at home, we might have to sit back a little bit, let them have the ball in their own half."
Since losing to Caley Thistle, Killie have won five, drawn two and lost one of their last eight games and they currently sit three points behind their hosts in the table.
"They're a team on great form, just like ourselves," added former Motherwell striker Foran.
"We're hoping our desire, hunger and attitude can get us through and get us the three points. We're three points ahead at the moment, we'd love to open that up to six."
Kilmarnock will move above Inverness on goal difference if they win - a position few, if any, would have thought possible when Mixu Paatelainen took over a reduced squad that had escaped relegation on the final day of last season.
Assistant manager Kenny Shiels said: "If we can stay in and around mid-table it will be fantastic for where we're at in terms of our short-term plan.
"Defeat is not the end of the world but we're trying to look at establishing ourselves with the potential to fight for a top-six place.
"We're about seventh at the moment in terms of points dropped which is good."
Source: PA
