Team news

Butcher targets top six Inverness manager Terry Butcher has urged his players to use Saturday's trip to Dunfermline as the launchpad for a top-six push.

Caley Thistle are four points off the top half of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League ahead of their clash at East End Park.

The Highland side went seven games unbeaten before consecutive defeats by Celtic in the William Hill Scottish Cup and SPL.

And Butcher wants his side to return to that form and force themselves into the pack chasing for a top-six spot over their final eight games before the split.

"Anything is possible," Butcher said. "We're in 10th position now and if we can get on a good run and get back to what we were doing before the Celtic games, which I'm confident we can do, then we'll certainly have a go." Inverness have already played Dunfermline four times this season, following three score draws with a 3-1 cup replay victory at East End Park last month.

"There's plenty of goals and plenty of action and plenty of mistakes," Butcher said.

"We want to make as few mistakes as possible and score more goals than them." The Pars have the chance to move themselves off the bottom with Hibernian playing Celtic on Sunday and Butcher saw enough fight in Jim McIntyre's team during their 4-1 loss to Rangers last week to know they face a tough 90 minutes.

"They certainly did okay last week when they went 1-0 up against Rangers and hit the post," Butcher said.

"They'll be fighting and scrapping like they normally do but we have got our own agenda. We're not looking down - we're looking up.

"We want to claw teams back to us, climb above them and give ourselves a lift for the Rangers match and finish off the seven games with a bang." Inverness will be without suspended defender Steve Williams.

Billy McKay could return from a hamstring injury while Owain Tudur Jones is looking to continue his comeback from a knee problem but Gregory Tade is likely to miss out again.

Aaron Doran (hamstring), Roman Golobart (ankle), Chris Hogg (knee) and Andrew Shinnie (foot) remain out.

Dunfermline will be without goalkeeper Iain Turner (back) and midfielder Mark Kerr (ankle).

Dunfermline vs Inverness CT

Last modified 18:12 18/02/12

Pars remain grounded after draw Dunfermline missed the chance to move off the bottom of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League after being held to a 1-1 draw by Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Joe Cardle's first-half goal put the Pars in the driving seat but Nick Ross grabbed a deserved leveller after 75 minutes.

With Hibernian not in action until Sunday, victory would have lifted Jim McIntyre's struggling side above their relegation rivals.

But their wretched home form continued, with Dunfermline now having failed to win in 14 league matches at East End Park this season.

Pars manager McIntyre made three changes to the side that lost 4-1 to Rangers last weekend.

Cardle, Martin Hardie and Kyle Hutton came in to the side, with Paul Burns, Mark Kerr and Liam Buchanan dropping out.

Inverness manager Terry Butcher was without the suspended Steve Williams. The Englishman was sent off against Celtic last weekend and David Proctor replaced him in central defence.

There was a huge incentive for Jim McIntyre's side but their home record suggested this fixture would not be easy.

Inverness were looking to pull further away from Hibs and Dunfermline, and Richie Foran had an early effort that was blocked.

Caley were more dangerous in the opening stages and Greg Tansey's low drive flashed wide after 12 minutes.

The visitors were trying to play off giant French striker Claude Gnapka and his lay-off found Ross, but Chris Smith saved comfortably.

Gnakpa's awkward, bustling style unsettled Dunfermline and he fired a rising drive over the crossbar in 25 minutes.

The Pars offered little going forward but winger Cardle burst to life with a mazy run before his shot was blocked.

Caley had more creativity and again cut through Dunfermline on 32 minutes, but Shane Sutherland blazed over.

Pars full-back Jordan McMillan then had to clear off his line as Sutherland tried to connect with Jonny Hayes' cross.

Irish winger Hayes grew into the game and drilled a shot wide minutes before half-time.

But Dunfermline then stunned Inverness by taking the lead in 45 minutes.

Cardle won a free-kick on the edge of the box and Martin Hardie's effort crashed off the bar. Caley couldn't clear the loose ball and Cardle reacted quickest to drill home from six yards.

Dunfermline had a chance to make it 2-0 minutes after the break but Paddy Boyle did not connect properly with a cross.

Inverness responded well to that let-off and McMillan's last-ditch tackle foiled Ross after a swift break.

The Pars tried to get Cardle on the ball as much as possible and Proctor scrambled clear after a dangerous cross from the winger in 55 minutes.

Proctor was not so reliable moments later when he missed a through ball and gifted Andy Kirk a free run on goal.

The Northern Irishman could have squared to team-mates but went for goal and Ryan Esson touched the shot wide.

Sutherland headed over from eight yards in 65 minutes as Caley chased the equaliser.

But Dunfermline were full of confidence and Gary Mason's 20-yard drive rolled inches wide.

Inverness kept going and the equaliser finally arrived in 75 minutes. Hayes was the provider with a low cross and Ross swept in at the back post.

Neither side gave much away in the closing stages but Esson produced a brave save at Liam Buchanan's feet.

The Dunfermline striker then headed over from just six yards as his side's search for a home win continued.