THE Highland derby in its current guise is a relatively modern phenomenon. After all, Inverness Caledonian Thistle as a club did not come into being until 1994. What it may lack in a back story, however, it more than makes up with the intensity, passion and ill-feeling that tend to be the hallmarks of any match between local rivals. Whenever Ross County and Inverness get together, it is usually a crackling, bawdy affair.

These two clubs, situated just 14 miles apart across the Kessock Bridge, were both accepted into the senior-set up together not long after Caley Thistle’s creation and have now faced each other in three of the four divisions. Some of their previous meetings have been loaded with greater significance than others. When County won on the last day of the 2012/13 season it had the effect of depriving Inverness of the three points they needed to qualify for Europe for the first time in their history. How they enjoyed that one in Dingwall.

Even that will be topped, however, should County prevail at home against their rivals this evening. Inverness, just three years after reaching the League Cup final and two on from lifting the Scottish Cup, are in a real pickle at the foot of the Premiership. Five points adrift of second-bottom Dundee, defeat in Dingwall could prove almost fatal to their chances of extending their current stint in the top flight into an eighth successive season.

In the Highland capital, a sense of anxiety sweeps through the town. The people of Inverness have become accustomed to having a Premiership side on their doorstep but this has been a season to forget under rookie manager Richie Foran. Dundee’s equally poor recent record will give Caley Thistle hope for the run-in but first they must secure the bragging rights – and a pivotal three points - from “El Kessocko” tonight.

“There have been some brilliant derbies between the sides over the years but this is probably the most important one yet given what’s at stake,” said Grant Munro, the Invernessian who joined County in 2011 after 13 years as a Caley Thistle player.

“Inverness are in desperate trouble at the bottom of the table so they need to win this one. It’s got to that point where they are running out of games to save themselves and just have to start getting victories.

“The derbies are always great to play in or just to watch but this one will have an extra edge to it. I’d like to think given the importance of the match it will be a sell-out or close to it as there is so much at stake. I remember when Caley were going for Europe and County beat them on the last day of the season and that was a big one but this game trumps even that. This is the biggest one yet.

“The County fans will absolutely love it if their side are the ones that push Inverness closer to relegation but that’s what you expect with any local rivalry. But Inverness will be trying to stay positive and thinking that if they can beat County then they can start to look at Dundee and try to close the gap in the games that remain.”

Munro was part of the Inverness side relegated in 2009, an event that had wide-reaching ramifications for the club. They would last only one season in the second tier before coming back up, but the former defender wonders whether the current side would be able to pull off a similar feat given both Rangers and Hibs failed to escape from the Championship at the first attempt.

“It would be pretty devastating for the place if Inverness were to go down,” he added. “You’d look at the consequences for the club and you wonder where they might go from there. You can sense a nervousness about the town as people don’t want to lose having a Premiership team and having the big clubs coming up to Inverness for matches.

“We got back up at the first attempt in 2010 but that league is even more competitive now when you look at some of the others that have struggled to get out of it. But Caley have five cup finals left to try to save themselves from that scenario.”

This has been a difficult introduction to management for Foran, the Irishman seeking a first win as manager since a Friday night victory over Rangers in February. Munro is sympathetic to his former team-mate’s plight.

“I’m sure Richie knew it wasn’t going to be easy when he took the job as management never is. Knowing the man he is he’ll be looking at himself first and foremost but I think the players also need to look hard at themselves and asking whether they have performed as well as they might have done.”