ICT will look to get back to scoring ways in this ALBA Cup second round match against third division Stranraer.

Its perhaps hard to believe, but the only Scottish league team we’ve never beaten are tonight's opponents !

While Saturday’s scoreless draw with Ayr United yielded a third consecutive clean sheet, it exposed a lack of form and confidence in front of goal which needs rectified quickly if Inverness are to maintain a title challenge.  

It’s a 185 mile journey from Stranraer to Inverness, and the visitors are hardly going to come all this distance just to make up the numbers. And, incredibly, our only "victory" in seven meetings was in a shootout in a cup replay; if you count the multiple Highland League triumphs against Elgin, then you could say that they remain the only Scottish League team ICT have never beaten. We’ve beaten Rangers, Celtic, and even Aberdeen, but not Stranraer!…

Our opponents Many Stranraer fans will be relieved they are competing this season at all, following a nightmare 2008/09 season which saw them finish bottom of the second division, with only three league wins all season, and revelations in January that the club were £250,000 in debt and had only a 50/50 chance of survival. However, Stranraer’s future has been secured by a partnership with a local housing association, and they lie eighth in the third division after two matches, following a 1-0 defeat at Forfar on Saturday.

Previous meetings The two sides have met seven times before, the last of which was in the same competition in September 2000; Stranraer were 2-1 winners in the Highlands. Ross Tokely and Roy McBain both played that day, while current Stranraer manager Keith Knox was part of the opposition lineup.

Team news Inverness Ross Tokely is available again as his current suspension does not apply to this competition. However, Eric Odihambo is still recovering from a broken metatarsal and Dougie Imrie has a knee injury. Andy Barrowman’s hamstring is set to keep him out of the picture as well. Terry Butcher may take the chance to rest a few players which could mean starts for Tokely, Russell Duncan, Roy McBain, Nick Ross and Adam Rooney.

Stranraer The visitors’ thin squad is likely to be stretched, with veteran centre back Murray Henderson, fellow defenders Kyle Wright and Stephen Noble, and forward Ray Montgomerie all suspended. There are few familiar names amongst Stranraer’s lineup, though it does include former ICT youth player Martin Jack.

The Hislopsoffsideagain prediction

The home support should expect a scoreline closer to the win over Annan than the result against Montrose. The long journey will not help the durability of Stranraer’s part-time players and an early goal could well lead to a big win. However, Inverness have lacked a cutting edge up front and might toil if the underdogs defend well as Montrose did here. However, anything other than a comfortable win would be a surprise and a disappointment.