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Inverness get the chance to show the home fans how they are progressing with a game at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium after a one month sabbatical away from the Highland capital.

Free scoring Hibernian are the visitors on Saturday, fresh from banging home five goals against Stranraer in the League Cup on Tuesday night, Liam Craig scoring a hat-tick, the same evening Inverness crept past Dundee in the same competition thanks to a Billy McKay strike and some heroics from Dean Brill.

Hibs are undefeated in six games since losing the Edinburgh derby to Hearts in mid-August, and have clawed their way up to fifth in the Premiership and look a tougher proposition than the team that slumped badly last season. In fact they have knuckled down hard since the humiliating drubbing they suffered at the hands of Malmo in the Europa League qualifiers. Hibs have only scored seven league goals, but their defence is second only to our own miserly lot, conceding five, one more than us.

The long man returns to Inverness after his move to Hibs over the summer in his search for European football. Owain Tudur-Jones has been out for a couple of weeks with a niggling groin injury but will be added to the squad for this clash against his former club. Paul Cairney is on the comeback trail and will get an outing with Hibs u20's at the weekend, but this top team game comes too soon for him. Daniel Handling, Tim Clancy and Alex Harris are also sidelined.

Inverness are hopeful that three mystery players will prove their fitness before kick off. Gary Warren is one obvious choice as the big centre back missed the Dundee game in midweek, Daniel Devine deputising in his absence. Richie Foran is another who might be struggling, looking like he hobbled off in midweek, but he is made of stern stuff is Richie, and it will take a brave man to tell him he is not playing.

Butcher was no a happy bunny after the game at Dens Park, pleased to win the tie, but not impressed with the overall performance. In all honesty, most fans have seen this coming for a couple of weeks now after tentative displays at Kilmarnock and Aberdeen although we have done enough to remain at the top of the division, albeit on goal difference. The long ball seems to have returned at the expense of the passing game with our creative midfielders being passed by and Billy McKay working with scraps once more. Maybe with a return to Inverness, we will see a change of tactic if not personnel. Is it time for big Toby to get a start and give Billy some help up front? James Vincent appears to float in and out of games, maybe still adjusting to the pace of the SPFL, but Andy Shinnie he is not although he promises plenty but does not always deliver.

One man doing his utmost to keep Inverness on top is loan keeper Dean Brill. He has been exemplary between the sticks and his display at Dundee was the difference between the sides as he broke Dundee hearts time and time again. Looks like Ryan Esson will have to wait a while for first team action.

Our overall record up here is good against the Hibees and if we can knuckle down and get back to our blistering start to the season form then we should be able to upset the capital side, and I will stick my neck out and go for a narrow home victory by 2-1.

The views from Easter Rd and Inverness