Two sides set for a battle against relegation this season meet in Dingwall on Saturday, when Ross County host St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership.
The hosts currently occupy the relegation playoff spot, but St Johnstone are still in danger, sitting just above Ross County heading into the weekend.
Match preview
Derek Adams will be glad to be back on familiar surroundings this weekend, as his Ross County side made it nine away games without a win after a 2-2 draw with Livingston in midweek.
A really poor start to 2024 has County eliminated from the Scottish Cup and still vacating a spot in the relegation playoff place.
Back-to-back 3-0 thrashings at home by Aberdeen and Championship side Partick Thistle in league and cup suggests that it is not just away form which is the problem either.
Losing at Celtic Park last weekend cannot be held against the side, but a late equaliser by bottom club Livi, who had lost 12 out of 14 games going into the clash, cost them two points on Tuesday.
County are extremely fortunate that Livingston have been much poorer this season, as the threat of automatic relegation would be looming much larger.
With two games in hand over Livingston, they must use them to their advantage to extend the current six-point gap between themselves and the bottom-placed club, but after taking just 19 points from their opening 21 games, that is easier said than done.
A win here would be huge for Adams's side, as it would see them leapfrog their upcoming opponents, with the gap at just two points currently.
While Ross County's away form has been way below par, St Johnstone have the worst in the division.
Even Livingston have taken more points on the road than St Johnstone's four from 10 games this season, as they have scored only twice away from McDiarmid Park and are yet to win.
After taking seven points from a possible nine early in Craig Levein's tenure at the club, St Johnstone have not progressed and are now winless in six, including a cup defeat to lower-league Airdrie before the return of league action.
The Saints had the opportunity to move above Motherwell last weekend, but they could only manage a 1-1 draw on home soil so still remain ominously close to the bottom two.
Team News
After being sent off against Aberdeen in the final game before the winter break, Ross County will be able to call upon Jack Baldwin again here after he served his suspension.
Adams still has many players missing though, as Ryan Leak is a recent name which has been added to a lengthening injury list after he picked up a knock to his ankle.
Scott Allardice, Ben Paton and Ross Callachan are all absent with knee injuries, while Dylan Smith will also miss out with an ankle injury of his own.
St Johnstone have looked to bolster their squad in the January window, and David Keltjens has had a positive impact since arriving from Hapoel Tel-Aviv.
The Israeli scored on his debut against Aberdeen and looks set to retain a place in the side alongside Benjamin Kimpioka, who made his debut at the weekend after signing from AIK.
Sam McClelland, Drey Wright and Alistair Crawford are all missing for the visitors, who also allowed Luke Jephcott to leave the club last week, after zero goals in 11 appearances for the club.
Ross County possible starting lineup:
Wickens; Brown, Ayina, Nightingale, Borthwick-Jackson; Khela, Jenks, King, Loturi, Dhanda; Murray
St Johnstone possible starting lineup:
Mitov; McGowan, Gordon, Considine; Keltjens, Smith, Phillips, Robinson; Carey, Kimpioka, Kucheriavyi
We say: Ross County 1-1 St Johnstone
Both clubs are out of form, with Ross County struggling to pick up points both home and away at present.
St Johnstone's form on the road is the worst in the division, but in what is set to be a close encounter, a third successive 1-1 draw could be on the cards for Levein's men.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Andrew Delaney
