Ross County are set to take on Inverness Caledonian Thistle in a pre-season friendly on Saturday, with manager Stuart Kettlewell looking to use the game as preparation for their first competitive game of the season in the League Cup.

What's at Stake?

The Staggies are currently 10th in the Scottish Championship, with 34 points from 36 games, and a recent form of LWWLL. They have impressed in friendlies against Invergordon, Forres Mechanics, and Clachnacuddin in the build-up to this season.

The Rivalry

Kettlewell says nobody understands the rivalry between Ross County and Inverness Caledonian Thistle more than himself, but he is thinking of the bigger picture. He wants to get his squad ready for the League Cup and put them in contention of progressing from the group stage.

The Plan

Kettlewell's plan is to win the group, and he believes his team can do it if they play attacking football without leaving themselves open at the back. Ross County have scored 36 goals this season, but have conceded 57, resulting in a -21 goal difference. They are 43 points behind leaders ST Johnstone, and their last result was a 3-2 loss to Raith Rovers on May 1, 2026.

The Road Ahead

The friendly against Inverness Caledonian Thistle will be played at Grant Street Park, home of Highland League club Clachnacuddin, on Saturday afternoon at 1pm. This will be the first time Ross County have faced Inverness Caledonian Thistle since Aaron Doran's testimonial at the Sarens PSG Stadium in Inverness 12 months ago, which the Staggies won 2-0. With the League Cup group stage starting on July 11, Kettlewell is focused on getting his team ready for the competitive game against Annan Athletic.