Preview: Ross County vs. Dundee - prediction, team news, lineups

It is a true six-pointer on Saturday as bottom-placed Ross County host Dundee, who sit just one place above the relegation zone, with each team desperate for points.

Despite their league positions each club have been improving in form recently, picking up results on a more regular basis as they each fight for survival.

Match preview

Ross County are currently bottom of the league with five points separating them and safety in the Scottish Premiership, which is a gap they will hope to shrink on Saturday.

The Staggies head into this match on the back of three games without a loss, making a major improvement on their form from the start of the season.

They followed a 1-0 victory against Hibernian by drawing to both Dundee United and St Mirren as the defensive performances of the squad have made big steps forwards.

Ross County have kept three clean sheets in their previous six fixtures, which is impressive for a team at the foot of the table, and they will be aiming to continue that

The Staggies have only won two games all season, but the squad will be well aware that one of those took place against Dundee when they performed in style, defeating the Dark Blues 5-0.

James McPake will be keen for his team to show more fight in this particular fixture due to how things went in the reverse tie, especially since the club can ill afford another defeat.

There are just two points between them and St Johnstone right now, with the need to secure three points being clear for the Dark Blues right now.

However, the squad are just three points away from Hibernian right now, therefore a victory at the weekend has the chance to see them climb as high as ninth place.

Much like Ross County the Dark Blues are in good form overall at the moment, with three wins in their previous six fixtures, which have helped their bid for survival.

However, they do head into this particular fixture on the back of a 3-0 defeat to Rangers in a match that the league leaders dominated.

Team News

Harry Clarke will be missing again due to suspension, with this being the final game that he has to miss following his recent red card.

Joseph Hungbo was brought into the starting XI in the most recent fixture for the Staggies as he continues to work his way into the side, and he could end up retaining his place here.

Dundee shall be without Lee Ashcroft who recently had surgery on his hamstring, which is going to rule him out for the foreseeable future.

Meanwhile, Shaun Byrne is also out of action until at least January due to a knee injury, which is something that the Dark Blues have dealt with.

Ross County possible starting lineup:

Maynard-Brewer; Randall, Baldwin, Lacovitti, Vokins; Cancola, Paton; Hungbo, Callachan, Spittal; Samuel

Dundee possible starting lineup:

Legzdins; Kerr, Fontaine, Sweeney, Marshall; Adam, Elliot; McMullan, McGowan, McCowan; Mullen

We say: Ross County 2-2 Dundee

While both teams are fighting to avoid relegation, they are in good form at the moment which could lead to a closely-fought contest in this one.

Even though Ross County dominated the match when they last faced each other, because of how much is on the line for each club due to the league table, they could end up sharing the points here.