Roy McBain has worked his way back into Inverness boss Terry Butcher's first-team plans and hopes to use the relegation run-in to secure a new deal.

The 34-year-old has played a pivotal part in the Caley Thistle engine room of late, helping the club remain unbeaten in their post-split matches, which leaves them needing just a win at Rugby Park to secure their Clydesdale Bank Premier League status.

McBain will be granted a testimonial if he is around next season, but the Inverness veteran is happy to be playing on a regular basis.

He said: "I missed a few games when the manager came in but I'm enjoying it immensely.

"Until the day I stop playing I don't think I'll stop learning new things, you never stop learning which could increase the longevity on your career and Terry Butcher's helped me out.

"The gaffer's explained contract talks are on hold until we are safe and I'm no different.

"I'm not in any rush and will take each game one at a time starting with Kilmarnock on Saturday where hopefully we can get a result."

Three points in Ayrshire will ensure another season of SPL football in the Highlands, which looked unlikely at the turn of the year.

Inverness were rock bottom in January until Terry Butcher took over from Craig Brewster and transformed the club into survival contenders.

McBain believes a tremendous amount of hard work has gone into making sure they reach safety.

He said: "I think it is another transitional period for the club because a lot of boys haven't been here long and it's take time for the squad to gel together.

"You need the right mix of youth and experience which we have and which will hopefully work out for us.

"It's hard graft so really we don't need an awful lot of motivation to get going in games.

"Against Motherwell, I thought we played well especially in the second half and looked quite comfortable 2-1 up.

"But they got back in the game and we had to be happy with a point.

"Before the game we would have taken a point because it was one of our toughest games on paper out of the five and we can't rely on other teams to get results for us, we have to get them ourselves."

Inverness travel to Kilmarnock this weekend having already scored four wins against Jim Jeffries' men this season.

Two wins at the Caledonian Stadium in September and March, plus a victory at Rugby Park and a Homecoming Scottish Cup success maintained their good record against Killie.

McBain is looking to see that run continues and believes his side have to stop Kevin Kyle in order to pick up maximum points.

"They're in good form just now although we have quite a good record against them and unbeaten against them this season so that will work in our favour," he said.

"He'll have to be watched that's for sure, we've known about him before and obviously he's a good player.

"He's a big lad and causes all sorts of problems so he'll have to be marked up.

"Our destiny is still very much in our own hands."