Mark McGhee says Inverness CT and Ross County's success in the top-flight show that Highland League teams must be taken seriously.

Motherwell face Cove Rangers in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup this weekend, with the Steelmen hoping to avoid an upset.

Cove are targeting promotion to the SPFL pyramid this season, with Highland League sides now afforded the chance to play in League Two.

McGhee highlighted the progress teams Inverness and Ross County have made in Scottish football, using their success as an example for former Highland League sides.

"When you see what Ross County and Inverness, having come up over the years, have achieved..." he said.

"When I was playing at Celtic, Inverness and Ross County were still teams that we would only play in pre-season. They weren't league teams.

"So the progress that teams like that have made, and the way they have justified themselves coming through the leagues and coming into the Premiership is just outstanding.

"I'm sure teams like Cove look at that and see the example of that and aspire to do the same. They've got every right to think that way.

"An experience like coming here on Saturday will be good for them, because it will be a measure for the progress that they still have to make."