Kilmarnock boss Lee Clark has urged his team not to let the fear factor destroy their Ladbrokes Premiership survival mission.

The Rugby Park men will be made to fight for their lives in the play-offs if they suffer defeat away to Hamilton on Saturday and Partick pick up at least a point at home to Inverness.

But Clark is refusing to contemplate that nerve-shredding scenario after bullishly insisting his team will prevail this weekend against Accies.

Victory at New Douglas Park would draw Killie to within four points of Martin Canning's team and keep their hopes alive for another week.

But former Newcastle midfielder Clark has warned his players they must not let doubt enter their minds as they gear up for their biggest game of the season.

Asked if he had tried to motivate his men by spelling out the potential consequences of defeat this weekend, he shot back: "We will go there and win this weekend, so it means we won't be consigned to the play-offs.

"We have realised what is at stake for many, many weeks. Every game is a huge game and that's the way we approach it."

However, Clark did admit: "You can't play if there is too much tension in your body. You can't play to your abilities if you take too much pressure into the game.

"So we have to stick to the game plan, play the game and go for the win."

Killie's hopes of avoiding the drop were dealt a major blow last week when they were beaten 3-1 at Inverness.

Kallum Higginbotham put them ahead but their performance came off the rails when Jamie MacDonald was sent-off after Conrad Balatoni's under-cooked pass-back forced the keeper to bring down Ross Draper in the box.

After the match, Clark struggled to hide his anger over Balatoni's "crazy" part in that penalty but says his squad have brushed off that disappointment and are ready to take on Accies.

He said: "We had to pick all the boys up after the weekend. We had to pick everybody up - myself included.

"It was a game where we shot ourselves in the foot. We were in control because we were in the lead. The opposition weren't particularly hurting us.

"So of course Sunday evening and Monday morning was tough.

"Everybody has been in the same boat. We all feel for each other. Obviously Conrad's role has been highlighted because he made one or two errors but we all feel the losses together.

"Conrad is a good professional and a good guy. He is hurting. We're all hurting. We're all aware individual errors have cost us at the weekend but we have rallied around each other.

"We have picked the boys up. We've had a good group meeting and said we can't affect the past, we can only affect the future. If we win on Saturday it puts a little bit of pressure on Hamilton.

"It will be down to four points with nine to play for."