Pressure now off Caley Thistle

TERRY Butcher believes Caley Thistle can finish the season playing with a freedom after securing seventh place in the Scottish Premier League following the victory over St Mirren.

Inverness welcome Hibernian to Tulloch Caledonian Stadium tonight (kick-off 7.45pm) for a game which, on paper at least, gives both teams nothing more than pride to play for.

Caley Thistle manager Butcher, however, wants his side to put on a performance for the home support as they look to complete a hat-trick of wins in the Highland Capital.

"There's a feeling that a big weight has been lifted off our shoulders," said Butcher. "We have achieved seventh spot now, so we can now go out and enjoy our remaining two games.

"I think we're the only team in the bottom half of the SPL that's currently playing with any real confidence, although the result against Celtic definitely helped us.

"The Aberdeen game was obviously a massive disappointment, but that has been our only loss in the last six games, so we want to continue our decent run.

"We can't finish any higher than seventh, but there's win bonuses for the players to go for and also the incentive against Hibs of finishing off our home fixtures strongly in front of our own fans."

Butcher has no fresh injury concerns, but Russell Duncan is unavailable following his dismissal in the 1-0 triumph against St Mirren last weekend.

Jonny Tuffey will retain his place in goal, while injury rules out both David Proctor and Chris Hogg.