Speaking ahead of Saturday's Irn Bru Division One Highland derby away to Ross County, the Caley Thistle manager said he will not be making bold predictions about winning the championship, preferring to quietly weave their way through the pack.

Boss of new leaders Queen of the South, Gordon Chisholm, after seeing his side beat County to claim first place last weekend, says it's time the media starting taking them seriously as potential league winners. He wasn't the only one, players and managers at other clubs have been not shy in trumpeting their class, but Butcher insists: "It's too early to start shouting about winning titles. Gordon will be confident because Queens have moved top a few times this season, but we have not been up there.

"As the season progresses, the better we will become. That's been the case with us already. We are scoring goals and looking more like a fluid unit, but we're not going to shout our mouths off about what we're going to do. We - like Ross County have done - will go about our business quietly. We just want to add to this unbeaten run and keep climbing the table."

Despite Queens grabbing the top spot, it's Caley Thistle who are arguably the form team, as their 4-1 rout against Morton giving them their first home league triumph since April, came thanks to an Adam Rooney hat-trick and a strike from Nauris Bulvitis.

This result followed hard on the heels of their 5-1 hammering of hapless Ayr United at Somerset Park.

Butcher is well aware, however, their classy form on the road could be fully tested by their Ross-shire rivals this weekend.

He said: "We know how hard it's going to be against Ross County. They are two points ahead of us and they have had one or two injuries and red cards, which obviously can affect the team. They are very well organised and are a tough nut to crack at home, indeed they have won a number of games there in the cups and the leagues.

"Despite that, we are looking forward to playing anyone at the moment - be it Ross County in the derby, or Dundee or Queen of the South. It will be difficult, but our away record is very good. It may be a short journey this time, but we'll be ready for it.

"What is at stake is another three points for us. We know how we felt when they came and beat us 3-1 in the league in August and we want to avenge that. We are on a four-match unbeaten run, with three wins and draw, so our aim is now to get ourselves within that leading group. We are confident that if we can play as can have been we can pick the points up.

"A number of our players have played there, so they're used to it. They are well aware of what the situation will be like. The two games so far haven't been classics, but they have been fiercely fought. There have been incidents and goals and plenty to talk about when the dust has settled and I am sure there will be on Saturday."

Butcher stuck with the same free-flowing system that worked so well against Ayr, with one or two changes in personnel working well for him, while still defending stoutly.

He explained: "We have made one or two little changes and the players who have come in have adapted well. We have been able to get round pegs in round holes. Adam Rooney has taken his chances, as has David Proctor. Richie has gone out to the right side, which I think is his strongest position - he doesn't, but I do and although he didn't score on Saturday, he was certainly instrumental in us playing well and looking like we were going to score.

"We wanted to be in that pack and we're not quite there yet. However, we are in a good position and we have a lot of confidence because we know there is a lot more to come from this team. As they say in horse racing, we still have a double handful."

Despite sweeping Morton aside in some style, the Inverness CT boss feels there are areas they have to sharpen up on.

He said: "Defensively, we were disappointed to lose a goal after getting our two goal lead, but we soon gained control again and went 3-1 up. It was important for us to go out and win in the second half. When we got it to 4-1, we were quite comfortable after that.

"Morton are not a bad side and they pass the ball around well. They have a new, young management team (James Grady and Allan McManus) in charge. They altered their system to try and stop us, but once we scored two goals early on, it was good stuff from us.

"We always looked dangerous and as if we were going to score. Although I was disappointed that we didn't score more, it was nice to bury that jinx of not winning a home league game. To do so in that manner was very pleasing. We did feel that if we could put it all together we would hammer someone and we have done that two weeks running."

Caley Thistle are not expected to have any fresh injury worries for their trip over the Kessock Bridge.

sports@highland-news.co.uk

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