IAN BARACLOUGH reckons some of his second-string Steelmen may have shown enough mettle to push themselves to feature in Motherwell's survival showdown.

The Well boss made nine changes to his starting line-up for the weekend's 0-0 home draw with Partick Thistle as one eye already moves to the play-off final first leg against Rangers at Ibrox on Thursday.

It gave the opportunity to some who have found game time hard to come by at Fir Park this season, with Stuart Carswell, Dan Twardzik, Louis Laing, Craig Moore, Luke Watt and Dom Thomas all given starts.

And despite the pedestrian pace of the match, Baraclough still thinks some of his fringe men proved they may be able to cut it in the intense pressure cooker of a Premiership play-off final with Stuart McCall's side.

He said: "I wanted players to step up and make a claim to be involved in the shake-up on Thursday and the following Sunday. The game itself had a real end-of-season feel to it.

"I would have liked us to have stepped it up two or three yards and moved the ball a little bit quicker, and I think we could have created one or two more chances.

"But what it did do was give people 90 minutes when they've not been getting too much at this level, particularly players who have been coming off the bench.

"Young players like Dom Thomas and Luke Watt haven't started all that often. I thought Luke was very, very good both at right-back and at centre-half."

Whether any of those who started on Saturday get to do the same at Ibrox on Thursday remains to be seen, but they still managed to keep Motherwell's successful run at home going.

Baraclough's men are now undefeated in their last seven matches at Fir Park, winning four and drawing three.

On top of that, a commanding defensive performance from young Watt helped ensure a clean sheet was recorded.

While their form on the road is not quite up to the same standard, the Motherwell manager was pleased those he threw in on Saturday helped restore some confidence ahead of the play-off push.

He said: "People forget that we have been strong at home during this stage of the season. Nobody has been able to come away from here with three points."

For Motherwell to utilise their strength at home, Baraclough knows first of all they must make sure the tie is still alive by the time McCall brings his Rangers team to Fir Park.

John Sutton had the best of the chances on Saturday against Thistle as he saw his free-kick saved, while also somehow missing a glorious chance with keeper Scott Fox out of his goal.

Converting those chances on Thursday could be crucial to Well's survival hopes.

"We've got to make sure we are still in the tie for the second leg for when Rangers come here on the Sunday," Baraclough told MFC TV.

"We will get ourselves together. We've already started preparation on that with the players, and putting into their minds what is needed for going to Ibrox.

"It's a fantastic occasion, we have to relish it and go there with confidence that we can come back with something to take into the second leg."