Jim McIntyre not expecting Hamilton to go on defensive
Ross County manager Jim McIntyre has not been lulled into thinking Hamilton will sit back in Dingwall despite tightening up their formation.
Accies have been playing an extra central defender and produced four clean sheets in the previous four weeks, including three goalless draws, ahead of their Ladbrokes Premiership clash against County.
But McIntyre said: "I think they will come and have a go.
"They have changed their system lately and gone to a three at the back. Whether they choose to do that or not, they still have a number of players who like to get forward and I don't expect anything different."
County have beaten Hamilton twice this season but McIntyre has been impressed with the way they have recovered from last month's 8-1 thrashing at Celtic Park.
"Hamilton have bounced back well from a heavy defeat at Parkhead and gone unbeaten in three matches so we know we will be facing a team who will know we have not lost to them this season and be determined to beat us," he said.
"They've got good players who can play in between the lines and cause you problems so we have got to make sure we bring a good level of performance.
"We just need to try and take the game to Hamilton and get the three points. We are now at a stage of the season where points are so crucial and, being the home team, it's up to us to capitalise."
Ross County will be without Marcus Fraser as the full-back dislocated his shoulder at Celtic Park and will see a specialist on Monday to determine whether he needs surgery.
Andrew Davies is back after resting an ankle problem while Scott Boyd (calf) has returned to training. Craig Curran (concussion) is improving but will miss out again.
Hamilton goalkeeper Michael McGovern looks out for his Northern Ireland colleagues each weekend and hopes to see them doing well.
But he knows he will have to watch out very closely for international team-mate Liam Boyce on Saturday as he bids to protect his own run of clean sheets.
McGovern has not conceded in three matches, since Accies were thrashed 8-1 at Celtic Park.
And he aims to continue that record when they face Ross County and 17-goal striker Boyce in the Ladbrokes Premiership in Dingwall.
"We've got a really tight bunch there and I would class all of the boys as friends in the Northern Ireland set-up," McGovern said.
"You always look to see who is playing and hope everyone else is doing well.
"Liam has done fantastically well, especially over the last 12 months. He is going to be a big threat. But they have a lot of threats and have signed (David) Goodwillie as well.
"He has really got his fitness up. He has always been a good finisher and since he has got his fitness up, he has shown how good a player he is."
With Accies in between the top-six places and the relegation play-off spot, McGovern has put thoughts of the European Championship to one side to focus on his club duties.
The 31-year-old added: "It's always nice to keep clean sheets but it's good for the team.
"We had a bad month in December, we conceded too many goals. So we got back to basics and shored up at the back.
"It's good for the team because clean sheets are the basis for good results. It's nice personally to get clean sheets because we had been conceding too many goals for a while, but it's really because the team is getting results now, it's been much better.
"If we can convert the draws into wins then we can start climbing the table."
Hamilton defender Michael Devlin is suspended after being sent off against Dundee United.
But fellow centre-back Jesus Garcia Tena and midfielder Darian MacKinnon are back from bans.
French striker Oumar Diaby is closer to a debut after playing 45 minutes for the under-20s during the week.
Source: PAR
