Highland head coach is wary of improving Dundee as teams set to face in Inverness
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Dave Carson says next opponents Dundee’s showing against Biggar on the opening weekend of the season proves how big of a challenge Highland have on their hands tomorrow.
Based on final league positions over the last couple of years, Highland would be favourites to beat Dundee at home, but the Morgan Academy outfit have shown marked improvements each time they have faced off.
The scope of their progress was highlighted two weeks ago, when they led Biggar – in the title race last season – until the closing minutes before a late turnaround.
Carson, then, expects Highland to have to up their game from their own opening day win over Ayr to stay on a winning track this weekend.
“They were quite a young side two or three years ago and took some heavy defeats,” Carson said.
“It wasn’t a fantastic result for them at Biggar, but it was a great display and showed that they will be in the top half if not pushing for stuff at the end of the season.
“They have a new coach and they’ve brought in some experienced guys. They have a big pack of forwards that pushed Biggar around a lot, and they’re a very direct team, so it will be similar to Ayr.
“I’d say they will be a wee bit stronger, so we’ll have to up our game again from what we did against Ayr.”
Big packs will be a familiar challenge for Highland this season, but at Canal Park especially Carson believes his team can triumph if they stick to their own game plan.
“We’ve been working on being really active and quick out of contact because we haven’t got bulk,” he added.
“I don’t think we’re going to play a side that are smaller than us, so we need to be smarter and move these big guys around. Last year we got into a few battles, but we really need to focus on keeping away from the fight in the ruck and moving wide.
“When the adrenaline is going and the brain gets a wee bit foggy, that’s the difference between really good sides and average ones.”
