St Johnstone-bound Shaun Rooney hopes to be playing against current club Inverness Caley Thistle in the Premiership next season.
Rooney will join the McDiarmid men in the summer when his contract with the Highlanders ends but is hoping to have helped John Robertson’s men achieve promotion by then.
ICT suffered a massive setback on that score at Tannadice on Friday night, their 2-1 defeat opening up Dundee United’s gap at the top to 21 points.
That means top-flight football will have to be secured via the play-offs.
Inverness are also in the Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup final against Raith Rovers and the Scottish Cup quarter-final against Hibs, with games likely to stack up as the season comes to its climax.
Rooney said: “St Johnstone is out of the way just now.
“I am concentrating on Inverness and getting the job done here, to see where it takes us.
“It was a difficult decision to make.
“I have enjoyed my time here and the gaffer has been great with me.
“I’ve got to make the decision for my future and play at the highest level I can.
“Hopefully, I can try get Inverness to the Premiership first.”
Inverness are one of several teams in the fight for play-off places, with Ayr United, Dundee, Arbroath, Dunfermline and even Morton in the mix.
ICT travel to Dunfermline tomorrow night, before the trip to Easter Road to face the Hibees in the last eight of the Scottish Cup on Friday.
Rooney added: “It’s always been the aim (to focus on second) since they (United) have been 15 points clear.
“We have just been concentrating on Ayr and trying to pull away from them.”
The full-back rued another defeat to United, who have beaten the Caley Jags in all three league meetings this season.
Rooney said: “That is why they are so far clear – they take their chances.
“It was probably the closest we’ve ran them this season.
“Once again it wasn’t good enough to get the three points and that’s been the story against United.
“It’s hard to take but we’ve got to try bounce back on Tuesday and get a win against Dunfermline.”
