MARTIN CANNING admits he faces a fierce fight to win back his place at the heart of Hamilton's defence.

The 32-year-old has been sidelined with a knee injury in recent weeks and was again in the stand for the 3-0 win over Aberdeen last Friday night.

Alex Neil's side head to Dundee on Saturday a point clear at the top of the table.

But Canning isn't counting on an immediate recall to an in-form defensive line that hasn't lost a goal in more than eight hours of football.

He said: "I started training last week, doing some non- contact stuff, so hopefully this week will be more of a normal week and I will be available for selection against Dundee.

"The knock was right on my bone, so it is taking time to get to a pain level that I can manage and play with.

"It is a different story when you get a knock on it. I will know better once I have been kicked again. The way the team is playing it will be a difficult task to get myself back in, but hopefully I will be available.

"The boys have been different class. We have got four clean sheets and four wins from four difficult games. You can't speak highly enough of what the team has been doing this season."

Hamilton have collected plenty of plaudits for their free-flowing attacking play this term, but it is at the other end of the park where they have laid the foundations for a stunning start.

Neil's pacesetters have recorded clean sheets in seven out of their 10 Premiership fixtures and have the tightest defence in the top flight.

Just five goals have been conceded so far, and New Douglas Park skipper Canning is delighted to see the hard work paying off.

He said: "For any team, that is a great run to be on. A lot of it comes down to the manager and the organisation of the team. Everyone knows their job and, when he puts you on the pitch, you have to carry out what he has asked you to do. His work is showing because we are getting the results.

"But no matter the information, if you don't work hard then it won't pay dividends. For me, it is great to see everyone working so hard."

While Canning has been on the sidelines, Hamilton have collected 10 points from four league outings and seen off Motherwell in the League Cup.

Successive wins over the Steelmen, Celtic and Aberdeen are the highlights of a remarkable campaign.

And Canning admits it is only now he appreciates just how well the top-flight newcomers are playing after seeing them in action from afar.

He said: "Obviously, you want to be involved, but you don't fully appreciate how good we are until you are sitting there watching them.

"In fact, you probably appreciate it a lot more when you are watching it rather than playing in it.

"When you are on the field, you could take it for granted, but when you see it in action you see how good we are as a unit. It is great to see."