Kilmarnock boss Lee Clark has rubbished Martin Canning’s suggestion that his Hamilton side won’t be treating Saturday’s clash between the pair as an especially big game.

The usual cliché wheeled out by managers for matches such as these, where a win for Accies would see them condemn Killie to the relegation playoffs, is that they are treating it like a cup final.

Canning attempted to play that sentiment down yesterday by insisting his side would not be making any special preparations for the encounter at New Douglas Park.

His counterpart Clark was having none of that though, and he says that his Kilmarnock side will be wound up for the occasion.

He said: “How many big games has he been involved in? I’ve been involved in plenty.

“Every game is a big game to me because it’s our life. It’s the next most important thing to my family.

“Whether it’s a pre-season friendly, a Champions League game, representing your country, every game is big and I don’t downplay any game.

“It’s the biggest game since I’ve been here. It’s a must win.

“When we do win it, it puts us right back in the mix again, four behind with nine to play for.

“Does that affect how we go about the game? Maybe, yes.

“It’s something to think about, but a defeat means it’s gone and a draw makes it unlikely for us.

“I still believe we will get tenth place. What re-emphasises that for me is that, although we lost last Sunday, we were in control of our own destiny.

“We beat ourselves, we didn’t get beat by a superior opponent.

“It was galling and tough to take, but, in the cold light of day when you analyse it, we shot ourselves in the foot.

“So we go there on Saturday sticking to our beliefs.

“Listen, Martin and his team have done terrifically well. They have handled the pressure and taken six points from six and we congratulate them on that, but we hope to make it as nervy last few weeks for them.

“We know we have to win, he’s in a different position. I’d love to swap places with him, in terms of league position.”

Clark hopes to be given a boost ahead of the game by hearing today that the red card shown to goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald in that game is rescinded on appeal.

“Hopefully, it will be positive news as Jamie has been an outstanding performer, probably the best in the league this season,” he said.

“The lad said himself in his interview after the game that he had probably lost control of the ball and good on him for doing so.

“He’s said that even if he got past Jamie, he didn’t have control of the ball to score.

“That’s part of our appeal process and we hope it works in our favour.

“It’ll be a blow to lose him, but it would also be a great opportunity for young Conor. I know he won’t let us down.”