Adams aiming high on final day
Ross County manager Derek Adams is still looking to finish the season in style despite missing out on a Highland derby European decider.
County missed the chance to take their unlikely charge for a Europa League place into the final game of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League season when they lost at Motherwell last weekend.
But they can still finish fourth if they beat Inverness and St Johnstone lose to Motherwell.
And Adams is eager to end a memorable debut SPL campaign on a high.
Adams said: "With two games to go we had the opportunity to finish third in our first season in the SPL.
"But we are definitely not disappointed. We have had a fantastic season, we have won a lot of games and done very well, and we are delighted with our top-six finish.
"We want to win the match and we're hopeful St Johnstone lose and we can go above them.
"We'll wait and see and I'm sure it will be an entertaining match.
"We're not really concerned about any other team, our only concern is to win as many matches as we can for this football club."
County have not beaten third-placed Inverness in five games this season and Adams is looking to change that statistic in the showpiece occasion for the Highlands, which is live on television.
"We're at home, we have played well against Inverness in the past and haven't got the results we were looking for," Adams said.
"The last game of the season for the Highland derby is going to be a great occasion for this football club and the Highlands.
"Nobody in the Premier League would have thought the two teams would have been in this position but we are and we're delighted with that."
Midfielder Owain Tudur Jones is preparing for a Highland battle as Inverness bid to clinch a Europa League place at the home of their local rivals.
Victory over Ross County in Dingwall would ensure Inverness finish in third place in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League and secure European football for the first time.
But County are determined to secure their first derby win in six games this season and can still leapfrog St Johnstone into fourth place.
Tudur Jones knows the contest on the poor surface at the Global Energy Stadium will not be for the fainthearted but he would not have it any other way.
The Wales international said: "It's been an unbelievable season and the opportunity to finish it off in style against our near neighbours is certainly an exciting prospect.
"Whatever happens on Sunday, for the fans the fact we will finish above Ross County is a big thing.
"But we have that added pressure of still having the opportunity to make it into Europe. It's in our hands, which is a huge positive.
"It's a great end to the season. We have all been involved in seasons where the final game has nothing riding on it and it's played at pre-season pace, but this Sunday promises to be a bit of a war.
"Not a pretty game in terms of passing movements, it's going to be an old-school nitty-gritty British type of game. It's going to be a battle. Whatever part of the pitch you are in is going to be a battle, you have to win your first balls and second balls and make sure you get the better of your opponent.
"If the majority of the team manage to do that then we trust the quality we have in our side to get a result."
Inverness midfielders Richie Foran and Ross Draper are suspended for Sunday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Ross County.
Goalkeeper Ryan Esson and defenders Gary Warren and Simon King remain out.
Manager Terry Butcher has no fresh injury problems.
Ross County captain Richard Brittain will miss the clash with a knee injury.
Brittain has a medial knee ligament strain and will be back to fitness in about two months.
Defender Branislav Micic (dislocated shoulder) and goalkeeper Mark Brown (fractured hand) remain out.
Source: PA
