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Ross County will today unfurl the Third Division flag for the visit of fellow promotion hopefuls Hamilton Accies to Victoria Park.
Neale Cooper's side will be presented with the league flag before his team launches its bid for a second consecutive promotion.
Cooper said: "It will be a difficult game against Hamilton, as they will be one of the favourites for the division.
"Last week the game was difficult because of the conditions. We can play a lot better, but the spirit is good and we want to get our league campaign off to a good start.
"If the players approach the match with the right attitude and commitment, I'm confident we will win the game.
"Colin (Miller) had a difficult season last season and I'm certain that his players will be looking forward to be playing on our park, because it should be a good occasion."
Defender Craig Tully will miss the match after being sent off against Forfar last week, as will Davie Ross and David MacKay, who are both injured.
Youngsters Martin Canning and Stephen MacKay are both added to the squad.
Hamilton manager Miller, an ex-Dunfermline teammate of Cooper, said: "Ross County won the Third Division last season, and the match will allow both teams to use this match as a gauge for the season.
"County will be unfurling the league flag, so their should be a good atmosphere and any player worth their salt should want to play in these games.
"The players did well against Montrose last week, and if they continue to show the same self belief we will do well this season."
Accies will again be without Ian McAulay and Stevie Renicks who are both injured.
Last week's goal two-goal hero Darren Henderson will also be missing as he starts a four-match suspension, but the Accies add pre-season signings Gary Lynn and Alan Russell to their squad.
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Former Aberdeen and Scotland central defender Brian Irvine has become an instant hit with Ross County fans by scoring in each of his first three matches for the club.
Irvine is enjoying his new role as County club captain and life in the Second Division in general, and is showing his total commitment to his new club by moving his family to the area.
He said: "This will be the first time my wife Donna will have lived away from her native Aberdeen, but we will be moving into our new home in Inverness in August, when my daughters will be starting school in the area.
"We've been settled in Aberdeen for many years and I only hope that the transition goes smoothly and won't affect my performance on the field of play.
"As for the role of captain, I've always tried during my carer to lead by example whether I'm captain or not. I'm here to do a job and I'll continue to do that to the best of my abilities."
Although Irvine is relishing scoring goals, he would have preferred not to score in each of his first three games.
"The three goals have come in three different competitions and I would have liked them all to have come in league matches to help us get off to an even better start," he said.
"My ability to find the net is something we can use as an added goal threat, although most of the praise should go to Roy McBain and Paul Kinnaird for the quality of crosses they have supplied.
"I'm really enjoying playing alongside Nicky Walker again.
"He's always been a good goalkeeper who organises well, giving his defence a lot of confidence."
Ross County manager Neale Cooper is still coming to terms with the fact that Irvine is now a regular feature around Victoria Park.
Cooper said: "I still can't believe that Brian Irvine is one of our players and things couldn't have gone better for him or ourselves in the first few games. He is a great ambassador for Ross County."
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Ross County boss Neale Cooper will be taking his razor to Tannadice tonight in the hope that his side can dump Dundee United out of the CIS League Cup.
Cooper is planning on relieving opposite number Paul Sturrock of his beard, which the Tangerines manager has vowed not to shave off until his side are beaten.
But Cooper said: "I will take great pleasure in helping Paul to shave it off."
County travel to the Premier League side with the added lift of having beaten United 2-0 (after extra time) in the third round of this competition last season.
Cooper added: "We will have to be at our very best to get any kind of result but we have done it before, and who knows?"
Cooper is optimistic that the experience within the County line-up can be drawn upon.
"We have got players who have played at that level in Nicky Walker, Craig Tully, John McGlashan, George Shaw and, of course, Brian Irvine," he added.
County are likely to be without Paul Kinnaird with a pulled hamstring and there is also a slight worry over John Fraser.
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This report appeared in The Scotsman (Wednesday 18 August) and was written by Alan Pattullo.
If the Newcastle United directors need a case study to help in their deliberation over the future of beleaguered Ruud Gullit, then perhaps they should look to the north for their answer.
Dingwall, home of Ross County, may not rank alongside Tyneside as a hotbed of passion, but as a place of football development, it surely has no peer. At the heart of this bustling club - County play Dundee United in the CIS Insurance Cup tonight - is manager Neale Cooper who was allowed to survive at Victoria Park despite losing his first six games in charge at the beginning of the 1996-97 season.
Chairman Roy McGregor said he always expected that Cooper would need a five-year apprenticeship, hence his refusal to usher him out of the door. This steady plotting has fired County's progress since those difficult early days.
Now Cooper is as feted a manager as any in Scottish football, despite his youthful 35 years. He presides over a club that regularly fields seven sides including a professional under-18 team and a women's one. Patience is a watchword in these parts but does not take the form of simply standing still.
Even in the last 12 months County have moved on, and boldly too. A year ago today, the club made history when Fiona McWilliams took up a post as youth coach, the first female to do so in senior Scottish football. She was present at Aberystwyth in July when the County under-16 side defeated Munich 1860 7-0 in the Ian Rush Tournament. As much as anything, the club clings most proudly to wins such as these, and it is not about to rest on its laurels in the search for young talent.
As McGregor says: "Our aim is to become the club in the Highlands, not just Ross-shire. We're very cosmopolitan but with our own culture."
This culture, he says, is one of giving as well as taking. County spend over £140,000 each year on youth development programmes.
"At the very worst, we might get a supporter, and at the best we will hopefully nurture a first team player," he added.
The set-up at Victoria Park is not about channelling the exuberance of youth. Such are the facilities - plans for a new stand are afoot for next year - that Brian Irvine turned down two Premier League sides to move to Dingwall, and others with similar experience are prepared to move down in order to move forward in their careers. McGregor talks of hoping to reach the Premier League in three to five years time, while he and his manager are agreed that in spite of achieving promotion only lasy season, winning the Second Division title must be this season's aim.
"We are not here to make up the numbers," said Cooper. "It is very important that we aim to get promotion. We have a lot of full time players. We are the team to be shot down. Our ambition is to win the league."
McWilliams would like to think that her future lies at international level with the Scotland women's side, but she is content to continue learning her trade at Victoria Park.
She has been entrusted with coaching the under-18 side, despite only just turning 20 herself. She turns her mind back 365 days and her first training session. She admits that she was nervous, stepping into an arena so steeped in prejudice down the years. She earned her players' admiration by doing what she does best - playing football.
"It was strange at first. All those 'What is she doing?' comments. I went out and took a skills session and did all these tricks and flicks, catching the ball on the back of my heel, my knee, stuff I learned from watching an Eric Cantona video. Right away they were saying 'Oh, she can play football'. I was accepted."
Respect is due not only to her, but also to a club that continues to expand its horizons, geographically and socially. Dundee United will hope that such a battering down of barriers does not include them tonight, just as it did 12 months ago in the same competition.
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Ross County boss Neale Cooper believes his men are coping just fine with the step up to Second Division football after a win and a draw from their opening two league outings.
The full-time Highlanders beat Hamilton on the opening day, then drew with Stranraer last weekend and Cooper believes they have adapted quickly.
County face Stenhousemuir at Victoria Park this afternoon and Cooper said: "People have to remember that our first two matches were against the two sides who came down from the First Division last term, so I think we've done all right.
"Stenhousemuir are joint top of the league, though, and are always a very stuffy side to play. It will be a difficult match and we'll have to be at our best if we want to win."
County have doubts over Frank Escalon and John McGlashan.
Stenny boss Graeme Armstrong admits his Warriors may be long shots to get a result in Dingwall. However, after winning their opening two Second Division games, the newly-promoted Larbert men are confident of pulling off a surprise.
Armstrong said: "We had a very good record against County last season, beating them twice and drawing once. We are definitely capable of taking something from the game."
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Ross County manager Neale Cooper will be hoping to put one over on former Aberdeen teammate Billy Stark when the Dingwall men meet Greenock Morton in the Challenge Cup tonight.
The game will give Morton boss Stark the opportunity to try to avenge last season's defeat when County knocked his side out of the League Cup.
Looking ahead to the second-round tie Cooper said: "The team have been working really hard and it is important that we start taking our chances.
"We haven't been putting the ball in the net and this puts pressure on the defence, because the opposition always get chances in a game.
"It is about finding the right balance up front that will enhance the team and get goals, but it is not just the strikers whom the responsibility falls on - it is also up to the midfielders to get into the opposition box.
"We have a couple of injuries, but it is up to others who come in to take their chances.
"Morton have started the season well and only went down 2-1 to Dunfermline on Saturday. It is another challenge and I'm sure they'll be out for revenge after we knocked them out of the League Cup last season.
"It is an opportunity for my players to play a Division One team, but if we show the same workrate and take the odd chance I'm sure we can do well."
County are likely to be without midfielder John McGlashan, who has an injured ankle. Frank Escalon faces a late fitness check.
Morton goalkeeper Ally Maxwell and defender Stephen Aitken are struggling to be fit.
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Ross County will look to build on their midweek triumph over Morton by toppling injury-hit Second Division leaders Arbroath at Victoria Park this afternoon.
Assistant manager Gordon Chisholm knows that robbing the Red Lichties of their 100% record will be no easy task.
Chisholm said: "They got a tremendous result at Partick Thistle last week, but we've prepared very well in training and we hope to recapture our form from the Morton game."
Former Dundee midfielder John McGlashan is doubtful with an ankle knock and Frenchman Frank Escalon has only a 50-50 chance of making it.
Gary Wood suffered a knock in midweek, as did Michael Geraghty, but both are expected to be fit, along with John Fraser.
Craig Tully has resumed training but man of many clubs Paul Kinnaird is still ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Arbroath go into the game with half their squad either injured or unavailable.
Heading the string of injuries are Kevin Tindal, Mark McWalter, Jim Mercer, Dave Arbuckle and Paul Brownlie, while midfielder Scott Peters is on holiday and John Gallagher is away on business.
To add to boss David Baikie's woes, goalkeeper Craig Hinchcliffe and midfielder Steve Florence are struggling to be fit.
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Neale Cooper will meet former Rangers and England striker Mark Hateley early neat week for signing talks.
But the Ross County manager insisted no more would materialise until both club and player had an opportunity to assess each other.
The buzz of expectation in Dingwall was apparent as the biggest crowd of the season turned up hoping to catch a glimpse of the 38-year-old Hateley.
But Cooper said: "I spoke to Mark again last night and he will be travelling up to meet me later in the week. But unfortunately, he could not make it to the match today.
"Hopefully, he will like what he sees of the set-up, but we do not know yet what the cost will be and I also want to see his fitness level."
But County chairman Roy McGregor said that cost would not be an issue in any move for Hateley, as long as the money demanded was not extortionate.
McGregor said: "The decision will be Neale Cooper's. We are in the market for a striker and the issue is whether we want a 38-year-old or a 20-year-old. Neale will be the one who chooses."
Cooper was delighted with a victory against Arbroath, who previously enjoyed a 100% record.
Cooper added: "If we had lost that one we would have been some distance behind Arbroath and this keeps us right on track."
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In the draw for the quarter finals of The Bell's Challenge Cup made today, Ross County were given a home tie against fellow second division Alloa Athletic. Alloa have started the season well and currently lead the division.
The draw in full is as follows:
| ROSS COUNTY | vs | Alloa Athletic |
| Livingston | vs | Raith Rovers |
| Inverness CT | vs | Clydebank |
| Stirling Albion | vs | Queen's Park |
The ties are due to be played on Tuesday 14 September.
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Ross County manager Neale Cooper was pleased to be handed a home draw in the quarter-final draw of The Bell's League Challenge Cup yesterday. County clash with fellow Division 2 promotion hopefuls Alloa Athletic.
Cooper said: "I am delighted that we have got a home draw, but it will be a difficult game and everyone at the club is looking forward to the tie.
"Alloa are a difficult side who are going well and the draw means that we will be playing them in league and cup games back-to-back.
"I know a lot of their players and Willie Irvine does well for them, so we'll be prepared, because we've had a lot of close games against them over the past few seasons.
"It should be a good game, because we are also doing quite well, but I still feel we can do better throughout games. The team is gelling well and are looking forward to every game."
Meanwhile, former Rangers striker Mark Hateley will travel to Dingwall on Thursday to train with County and hold talks over a possible transfer.
County had hoped to put the experienced hitman through his paces earlier, but his television commitments have delayed that possibility.
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