RUSSELL LATAPY hates to admit it, but he and Inverness managerial partner John Hughes are more alike than they seem.

One is the soft-spoken Trinidad and Tobago international, an oasis of calm

The other is the heart-on-sleeve laugh-a-minute character who, as a Celtic, Hibs and Falkirk defender, bludgeoned opponents.

Latapy concedes the similarities run deeper than the differences.

Ahead of today's tussle with Aberdeen, he said: "We've worked together for a lot of years and I would like to think we're very honest with each other in our feelings, our philosophies and in the way we see things.

"Obviously, he is the manager and makes the final decisions, but I tell him how I feel and he respects what I say. John has his personality and we love him for that. He wears his heart on his sleeve, he's boisterous and says what he feels.

"He doesn't like to see injustices and I feel the same way about a lot of things, but we go about it differently. I suppose, in the background, we always fight the same fight."

There have been questions about the durability of Hughes' team after consecutive defeats to Partick and St Johnstone.

But Latapy stressed: "Barring certain decisions in the game, the St Johnstone defeat amounted to a return to form. We are at home against a very good Aberdeen side and we have had some close encounters with them in recent times.

"I am sure this one will be very similar and we will look to do our best to secure the points."