RICHIE FORAN is backing his Inverness Caledonian Thistle players to take the game to Rangers tonight – and re-enforce the fortress-like qualities of the Caledonian Stadium.

The Irishman expressed his determination to make life as uncomfortable as possible for Mark Warburton's side, who travel north as favourites.

And when asked if the ground could present a culture-shock to a bulk of Rangers players unacquainted with it, Foran replied: “I hope so. I’d love it to be snowing, hailing, windy, raining, because our boys love that and we're probably used to it.

"But I'm sure Mark [Warburton] will have them well-drilled of what to expect. It's an open stadium and probably not the nicest place for teams to come.

"This is our patch. This is where we train, eat, have our meetings. This is our home.

“We want to turn it into a horrible place to come for other teams and we're working on it.

“We set up every home game to win it. You might set up differently at Ibrox or Parkhead and I have the utmost respect for Rangers, but my focus will be on my team and what we can do.

“We know their strengths but, at home, I believe it's all about what our boys can do.”

Foran played in winning Inverness teams at Ibrox, but always found it harder to beat them at home. It is 10 years since any Caley Thistle side achieved the feat.

Foran said: “Records are there to be broken and that's the way I look at it.

“They've been criticised because they're not sitting first or second in the league but in fairness, in the years they have been out, the belief from other clubs that you can go and beat them and Celtic has grown.

"Back in my Motherwell days we were hoping to keep the score down but now you're at home, you're wanting to go attack them. They'll notice that boys are as fit as them now, whereas probably the last 15-20 minutes last season, their fitness was better than other clubs.

"It's a big jump from Championship to Premiership, but I'm sure it's no shock to them.”

As for the current unhappiness of Rangers fans over results, Foran had sympathy for Warburton.

He added: “Look at Aberdeen pushing Celtic last year. Resources have probably gone up at other clubs, so it isn't as easy as it was maybe six or seven years ago. The standard has gone up.”