Clubs in the Scottish Football league are making their plans for the new season. Not for them the luxury of a foreign training camp or a tour of glamour clubs down south. They have to be careful with the pennies and realistic in their ambitions. A couple of the clubs in the north are looking to their neighbours ion the Highland league to test them before points are at stake.

Newly relegated Inverness Caledonian Thistle will prepare for their return to the First Division by playing Clachnacuddin at Grant Street Park on Tuesday, July 7 (kick-off 7pm) followed by Forres Mechanics at Mosset Park on Wednesday, July 22 (kick-off 7.45pm).

Ross County are starting their games a little earlier, playing Huntly at Christie Park on Saturday, July 4 (kick-off 3pm) before moving to Mosset Park and Forres Mechanics on Wednesday, July 8 (kick-off 7.45pm). County then travel to face Deveronvale at Princess Royal Park at Banff on Tuesday, July 14 (kick-off 7.30pm).

Both clubs are expected to announce further pre-season games against SPL and SFL opposition in the next couple of weeks.