Motherwell travel north to take on Inverness CT in the final game of the season tomorrow afternoon.
And having won back-to-back matches for the first time this campaign, the Steelmen will be keen to extend their winning run to three matches.
But it will be a tough fixture for the Fir Parkers, who face an Inverness side fighting for a chance to avoid immediate relegation from the top flight.
The Caley Jags sit just one point behind Hamilton heading in to the final fixture of the 2016/17 season, having picked up six points in their last three games to give Richie Foran’s outfit what seemed an unlikely chance to secure safety.
And ‘Well boss Stephen Robinson is well aware that Inverness will be tough opponents to face tomorrow.
Speaking to MFC TV, the Fir Park gaffer said: “We’re looking forward to it and it’ll be nice to play the game without too much pressure on it.
“But on the other hand we really want to go there and put in a performance because the fans have backed us through thick and thin so we owe them and the people who travel up there a performance.”
[pullquote]We really want to go there and put in a performance because the fans have backed us through thick and thin so we owe them and the people who travel up there a performance.[/pullquote]
He added: “Also to the other teams involved in a relegation battle, I feel it’s important to put out the strongest team we have available to us to go there and try and win the game.”
Motherwell will be without Stephen McManus, Richard Tait, Scott McDonald, Jack McMillan, Lee Lucas and Jacob Blyth – all out through injury.
Inverness, on the other hand, will be without Owain Fon-Williams, Carl Tremarco and Josh Meekings.
Three weeks ago, you would have been excused had you completely written off Inverness’ chances of avoiding the drop.
But with one game remaining, Richie Foran’s side are within touching distance of achieving something that looked like they had next to no chance of achieving.
Two wins in their last three games mean that the Caley Jags could potentially finish eleventh and avoid automatic relegation – depending on Hamilton’s result against Dundee tomorrow.
It would be an impressive achievement given the turbulent campaign Inverness have had, and tomorrow’s opponents will be keen to try and secure their second win over Motherwell this season.
A heavy 3-0 defeat for the Steelmen at Fir Park was followed up by an important 2-1 win at the Caledonian Stadium back in December, and the most recent clash, a 4-2 win for Motherwell, was one of the clubs most important victories of the campaign.
Goals from Chris Cadden, Louis Moult, Scott McDonald and Allan Campbell wrapped up the win despite Alex Fisher’s double.
The last trip to the Highlands saw Craig Clay score his first goal in Claret and Amber when he fired in a stunning effort from distance to put the ‘Well one up.
Scott McDonald made it two with just three minutes remaining before a late goal from Greg Tansey made it a fairly tense few minutes as the Steelmen managed to hold on.
The hosts will be full of confidence and, more importantly, fight, as they go out to try and stay in the top flight tomorrow afternoon.
They come in on the back of a 2-0 win against Dundee, where they got off to an ideal start and found themselves two up inside ten minutes.
Alex Fisher’s superb goal put the northern outfit 2-0 ahead after Billy McKay had fired them in front, and Richie Foran’s side were barely threatened from that point onwards.
It was a must win match and with one big battle left on their hands, they will make for an extremely tough opponent tomorrow night.
McKay came close to an opener inside a minute when he charged down Scott Bain’s clearance, with the ball sailing inches wide.
It was a warning Dundee failed to take note of. McKay gathered the ball almost immediately after his earlier chance and fired home with a clinical finish after some poor Dundee defending.
Iain Vigurs sent a ball in towards Fisher on ten minutes, who controlled it and produced a fabulous volleyed finish to double the lead.
Foran’s side also earned a rare clean sheet which will add to their encouragement as they prepare for tomorrow’s game.
Over the course of the last few seasons, matches have been tough to call between tomorrow’s visitors and the Steelmen, making for an intriguing fixture this weekend.