INVERNESS has gone William Hill Scottish Cup crazy ahead of Saturday's final against Falkirk at Hampden Park, according to midfielder Nick Ross.

John Hughes' Caley Thistle side are looking to bring the trophy back to the Highland capital for the first time since the club was formed in 1994.

Inverness lost the Scottish League Cup final to Aberdeen at Celtic Park last season but Ross, one of the few local players in the team, claims the city has embraced the national cup tournament in a much bigger and much more public way.

"Around town has been crazy, really," the 23-year-old said.

"Obviously we had the final last year but there is more of a buzz about this final because it is the Scottish Cup and it is a bigger trophy.

"I was in town the other day and walking past all the shops you see the strips in the window, and you go down the High Street and there are pictures of us on the lamp posts and the statue up at the castle has a Caley scarf round its neck.

"I have never seen anything like it.

"So it is good that everyone is feeling the buzz and getting behind us.

"There has been a lot of backing and hopefully we can win it for them.

"Just to experience the cup final atmosphere and the build-up to the League Cup final was beneficial as we are used to it now.

"Last year we were disappointed not to win the game so it is still in our minds and if we can win this week that can put that to bed."

Ross played in a weakened Inverness side which ended their Scottish Premiership campaign on Sunday with a 5-0 defeat to champions Celtic at Parkhead.

But with so many regulars missing - Josh Meekings, Graeme Shinnie, Ross Draper, Edward Ofere, Greg Tansey and David Raven were nowhere to be seen while Marley Watkins and Aaron Doran were on the five-man bench - the result is unlikely to dent confidence at a club which has already qualified for Europe for the first time in their history due to their highest finish.

The former Scotland Under-21 cap said: "At the start of the season we didn't think we would finish third, be in Europe and in the Scottish Cup final, so to have done all that is unbelievable.

"It is just the way the club is going now, it is just so successful and so if we can keep building on that we can have a good future.

"Every year the aim is to stay in the league but we have been up there (top end) all season so we have deserved all the success we get."