'Championship offers chance of rebirth for County & Saints'

Both Ross County and St Johnstone suffered Scottish Premiership relegation last term

Scottish Championship: Ross County v St Johnstone

Venue: Global Energy Stadium, Dingwall Date: Friday, 8 August Kick-off: 19:45 BST

BBC coverage: Watch Sportscene on the BBC Scotland channel & iPlayer from 19:30 BST and follow live text updates on the BBC Sport website & app

With both Ross County and St Johnstone suffering top-flight relegation last term, Friday's encounter between the pair is being billed as a clash of the Championship titans - but neither club really see it that way.

A Highland vantage point gives County a unique perspective when it comes to the upper echelons of Scottish football.

They may have spent the past six years in the top flight, but that is the blink of an eye in the historical context of the game in Scotland.

Remember, this is a club who have only been competing in the national leagues for 30 years, geographical outsiders in a SPFL landscape dominated by the nation's central belt.

Saints, meanwhile, ended a 16-year stay in the top flight after experiencing some incredible highs along the way, winning the Scottish Cup twice, winning the League Cup and going head-to-head with Turkish giants Galatasaray in Europe.

Both clubs boast fanbases wholly comparable in number with the likes of Partick Thistle, Ayr United, Raith Rovers and Dunfermline Athletic.

Therefore, the pair of them look at the Championship as a sea of sharks this season, all capable of taking chunks out of each other.

'County going down tried & tested route'

It took time for County to process the disappointment of relegation. This is a club that holds great stock in representing the Highlands in the SPFL. The pain of demotion was keenly felt.

Once the sting dissipated, a clear new strategy emerged - go down the route of tried and tested.

Hearts legend, and former County boss, John Robertson was prised away from his BBC Sportsound microphone to join the coaching staff and offer up his wealth of football knowledge to manager Don Cowie.

They know each other, their paths had crossed when Cowie was a player at both Tynecastle and Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Midfielder Ross Docherty and defender Declan Gallagher were signed up - both played starring roles for Dundee United as they won the Championship.

Veteran winger Gary Mackay-Steven was also recruited, along with the similarly experienced Nicky Clark.

Indeed, the signing of Clark adds a huge dollop of intrigue. Not only is he another experienced and proven performer, but his last club was St Johnstone.

Add to this he scored twice for Saints in a 3-3 draw between the sides last season. Could he haunt his former employers this time round?

And this is before even mentioning Ronan Hale - the Northern Ireland international who scored 18 goals last season.

'Year in Championship could galvanise Saints'

Simo Valakari put his own stamp on St Johnstone's playing style last season, which earned plaudits but failed to avoid relegation.

That style will continue, but it will be blended with the same recruitment strategy being employed by County - tried and tested.

Valakari will undoubtedly have leaned on the knowledge and nous of head of football operations Gus MacPherson when it comes to recruiting experienced heads in the Scottish market.

Sam Stanton was a huge player for Raith two seasons ago and should provide goals from midfield.

So too should Stevie Mallan, who found the net in a statement 5-1 victory over Partick Thistle last weekend.

A sparkling talent who won the Championship with St Mirren, the hope will be 29-year-old Mallan can rekindle some of that stardust in Perth and use the frustrations of having lost the last couple of years to injury as motivation.

At the back another former St Mirren player Jack Baird has arrived from Morton in tandem with Morgan Boyes. That familiarity at the back has the potential for a solid foundation.

Add to this players from last season like Sven Sprangler, Jason Holt and Josh McPake - who scored a hat-trick last weekend - and the signs are positive.

Including their League Cup group campaign, Saints have won all five of their matches so far this season, scoring 20 goals and conceding just three.

Perhaps this could be a galvanising season for the Perth side, as well County.

Often clubs relegated from the Premiership see their attendances rise as the team wins more matches, plays more attractive football and - they hope - win promotion.

The Championship offers the chance of a rebirth. Livingston proved that point last season.

But a long road lies ahead - in more ways than one. Both these sides will hope experience can help guide the way.