Christie: I want to play
Inverness midfielder Ryan Christie is hopeful he can cement his place in the starting XI and create a partnership with on-form striker Marley Watkins.
Christie started and scored in last Saturday's 2-1 win over St Mirren after starting the previous five games from the bench.
Inverness entertain Kilmarnock this weekend and Scotland Under-21 cap Christie is aiming to link up again with Watkins, who has hit two goals in three games since being played as the main striker following Billy McKay's departure.
He said: "Marley's been great, he offers us something over the top which is what all teams need. He's strong and powerful. I love playing off him so hopefully I get that opportunity this Saturday."
Caley Thistle go into Saturday's match in third place, trailing second-placed Aberdeen by three points, after collecting 19 points from seven games in 2015.
He said: "We're obviously looking to keep the run going. It's been a terrific run. It's given the boys a confidence boost every time we've kept it going. With the big game next Tuesday against Dundee United, if we get a win this Saturday, it'll be give us huge momentum going into that game."
Caley Thistle's aim for this season is to catch Aberdeen according to Christie, and he believes there is no reason why the Highlanders cannot reproduce their success in last season's League Cup - this time in the Scottish Cup with a quarter-final against Raith to come.
He added: "Our aim is to catch Aberdeen. Every league game we're wanting to keep that run going and we want to stay at the top end of the table for as long as possible.
"In terms of the cup - the draw suited us and we've got a real chance of making it far in the cup and after the experience the boys got last season of it we're definitely wanting to go to Hampden."
Nathan Eccleston believes Kilmarnock have to discard any lingering delight from last week's dramatic home win over Dundee United to go again when they meet Inverness.
After being released by Partick Thistle, the 24-year-old striker was snapped on a short-term deal by Rugby Park interim boss Gary Locke.
The Englishman, who started his career with Liverpool, made his debut as a late substitute against the Tannadice men and was able to share the celebrations of Sammy Clingan's last-gasp strike in the 3-2 victory.
It was Killie's first win in six games but they face a formidable challenge in Inverness, who have beaten the Ayrshire side twice already this season.
John Hughes' men sit third in the table and are unbeaten this year with one draw and seven wins.
Ahead of the trip north, Eccleston told Killie's official website: "We got a very good result on Saturday. You could see by the celebrations at the end, it was a good result for us against a very good team.
"We played well and some of the things we were working on in training worked and we deserved to the get the three points in the end.
"But we have to put that behind us. That was just one match.
"Inverness are a very good footballing side.
"We have worked on a few things this week but we have to play our normal game and if we play our normal game and stick to what we do well, I think we will cause them a threat and hopefully get a good result."
Eccleston has been impressed by the training at the Rugby Park club as he looks for a starting slot.
He said: "I don't want to offend anyone at Thistle but I have been really surprised by the tempo of the training sessions. The tempo is a lot sharper than I expected it to be.
"Nobody slacks. If you make a mistake you make a mistake but everybody is encouraging and trying to demand the best of each other each and every day.
"We have a new manager and everyone is looking to impress but having spoken to some of the players, it has always been like that.
"I've spoken to the manager and my thought process is to come here and play football.
"The competition for places only improves you as a player. You know that if you don't do well, someone else is going to push you."
Source: PA
