Liam Polworth wants to see Inverness and Ross County in top half of table
Inverness midfielder Liam Polworth revealed his hopes for a top-half finish by both Highland clubs ahead of the derby against Ross County on Saturday.
The 21-year-old scored the winner in Caley Thistle's dramatic 4-3 win over Hamilton at New Douglas Park on Wednesday night with his second of the game to take the visitors' unbeaten run to four matches and into sixth place in the Ladbrokes Premiership.
The previous evening County beat Kilmarnock 3-2 at home to cement their fifth-place spot which Polworth believes augurs well for the second half of the season for Highland football.
Polworth told Press Association Sport said: "They (Ross County) have done brilliantly.
"Obviously not so great last season, but to come back and have a season like they are having already, they are pushing right on and they had another win the other night so hats off to them.
"Come the end of the season if you get two Highland teams in the top six I think that is a big achievement."
Polworth believes Inverness' finish at Hamilton only confirmed his side's tenacity.
Accies had come from 2-0 down to level at 2-2 and then again from 3-2 down to equalise in injury time before Polworth thundered in the winner from 22 yards with the last kick of the match.
He said: "It is good to get the three points in the end and all the boys will be ready to go again in the New Year's derby.
"There has always been a lot of spirit at the club but I think we will be concentrating on pulling together and stop conceding goals and hopefully we will push on from there."
Inverness boss John Hughes will monitor his squad ahead of the home Highland derby, with some Caley Thistle players picking up some bumps and bruises in the win over Hamilton.
Defender Josh Meekings missed the game with a knee injury as did Aaron Doran, Richie Foran and Dean Brill, also with knee injuries.
Captain Andrew Davies is still fired up by memories of Ross County's home derby loss as the Staggies prepare to face Inverness.
County surrendered a seven-match unbeaten run when they fell 2-1 to Inverness in the Ladbrokes Premiership on October 3.
They have since gone to the Highland capital and won in the League Cup but that did not quench Davies' thirst for retribution.
"It's going to be a massive game," the former Bradford defender said. "They came up here and took the points off us so we want to go down there and get revenge. We are all up for it and ready to go."
Ross County boss Jim McIntyre could name an unchanged squad.
Source: PAR
