A fleet of buses and cars will make the two-hour journey down the A9 for the Perth showdown against Division One rivals Dundee at McDiarmid Park.

With 2000 tickets sold, the Inverness club are calling on the rest of the city and surrounding area to score two goals by coming to back Terry Butcher's boys in what could be a cracking final.

Darren Mackintosh, ICT's commercial manager, said: "I'm sure all fans would love to get behind the team in Sunday's final. Not only does their backing help the players, but buying tickets also helps the club with its ongoing development and I hope as many people as possible can make it for what should be a great day out."

John Robertson led ICT to Challenge Cup victory against Airdrie United in Perth in 2003 before going on to lift the First Division title and that's the goal for Butcher's side this term.

Butcher's sole managerial cup final experience is a sore one - a 5-1 defeat by Rangers in the League Cup Final four years ago when he bossed Motherwell.

However, he is sure these Inverness CT players can help bring the first senior silverware of the campaign back up the road on Sunday night.

The teams have met once this season in the First Division and a thrilling encounter on Tayside finished 2-2.

That, coupled with the weekend's 2-0 league win at home to Airdrie United, gives the boss confidence.

He said: "We are far more attacking now than we were before. We could have scored more than we did in that 2-2 draw at Dens. It was a thrilling game and if the final is anything like that then the fans will be in for a real treat. Both teams have the ability to play good football, so it should be a good one. When you play against a team like Dundee you have to be at the top of your game because if you're not they could win the game three or four nil.

Caley Thistle stars, from left: Nauris Bulvitis, Richie Foran and Dani Sanchez get in the mood for Sunday's Alba Challenge Cup final. Ken Macpherson

"They have players that can do that and, in a cup final especially, you don't want to be embarrassed.

"It's like when you are playing Rangers or Celtic, there is that fear that you could be turned over big time, and you don't want that. I was Motherwell manager when we lost 5-1 in the League Cup final (in 2005) and that wasn't nice, so I hope for better on Sunday.

"There are a few players at this club who have already won it and enjoyed it. Although our main focus is the league, this final is a welcome break.

"We will make sure the preparations are right. With players' families there, it does give the game a bit of a special feeling. This final has almost crept up on us really. It wasn't until after the Airdrie game that we turned our attention to it and it's amazing we have everyone fit and available."

ICT will be the official away team in this final and will don their white kit for this one.

Butcher smiled and added: "This is an away game for us, we'll be in our away kit, we'll be in the away dressing rooms and we tend to enjoy away games, so we'll treat this as a normal SFL match.

"We know there's a bit of silverware at the end of it and there could be extra-time, but we've come through penalties twice in this competition, so we won't worry about that."

* Fans wanting to ensure they will be at the big game can snap up their tickets from the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium or call the ticket office on 01463 227452.

sports@highland-news.co.uk

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