Andrew Davies believes Ross COunty have psychological edge over Inverness despite head-to-head record

But Davies feels back-to-back victories, in August and on Hogmanay, have given County the psychological edge approaching one of the most crucial meetings of the clubs in memory.

The big central defender, keen to make it a hat-trick of wins today in Inverness, insists County’s derby mind-set has been transformed since he first arrived from Bradford City in June 2015.

Back then, County had gone five matches without a win over Inverness, but have since won twice at their foes’ home ground. A home victory for Jim McIntyre’s side on Hogmanay also broke a run of five straight derby defeats in Dingwall for the Staggies.

Davies said: “In past seasons, they always seemed to get results against us but we've obviously turned the tide now.

“I've always said, when we play to our full ability, we’re capable of turning most teams over. I think we showed that against Hearts the other day.

“No matter how you look at it, when you keep getting beaten by a team that stays in your head going into the next game.

“You can’t help but go into the match thinking that you've never won against them or never beaten them at your own stadium.

“But then it turns – and it has done for us. It's all about confidence.

“Whichever way you look at it, they will have that little bit of doubt in their minds now, 100 per cent.

“They will always have that doubt in their head now that we are capable of turning them over – and we are.

“But we are not naïve enough to think that they will not be thinking they can turn us over and turn it around as well.

“We will just keep doing what we've done against them in the past and, if we play the way we know we can, we should get the result.”

Davies knows opposition manager Richie Foran, with signs of recovery apparent across the Kessock Bridge, has spoken of the greatest pressure now resting on the shoulders of teams above Caley Thistle in the table.

The Englishman, though, stressed: “I'd much rather be in our position than theirs.

“I think the pressure is on them, but we’re not out of it yet. I think two or three more wins, which we know we are more than capable of getting, will see us right.

“We've just got to keep doing the right things, stick to the basics, and make sure we keep creating the chances we have been and results will turn for us.

"This season has probably not gone the way that we want it to go but that's football. Sometimes you try everything and give your all and it doesn't go your way.

"You can never lose belief in what you are trying to do and just keep trying to do it and it always will come good if you keep sticking at it.

“When we play to our ability, and perform in the manner the manager wants, then we beat teams – it’s as simple as that. It is just when we let little errors into our game, and don't take our chances, we seem to see those results pass us by.

“But again, if we play to our full ability, I don't see why we can't get a result again."

Victory for County would lift them seven points above their bottom-of-the-table hosts, but Foran’s men can secure a massive recovery step by winning the fixture and dragging themselves to within a point of County.

Davies, who has shrugged off the after-effects of concussion which kept him out of last weekend’s Kilmarnock defeat, said: “We are both desperate for a result.

“They are in the same situation as us, really wanting and needing the win, so it will be a good game to watch, I'm sure.

“It is one I'm really looking forward to because it is always a good battle against them.

“You could say the stakes are higher for this one but I think every game in this league is always going to be tight. I don't think any of us will be expecting any different this weekend.

"Obviously we would have liked results to go a little bit better for us but that's just the way it is. Sometimes that's the way football goes and you've just got to dig deep and do whatever you can to get those three points in this game or the next game."