Stephen McManus believes Motherwell can propel themselves away from danger
Stephen McManus believes Motherwell can still sprint away from the relegation play-off race - because they have proved themselves capable of going on unbeaten runs before.
The veteran centre-back admits he is worried by Well's current Ladbrokes Premiership placing of 10th.
They boast a three-point advantage and a game in hand over Kilmarnock, who they host on Saturday, but McManus knows the Steelmen's recent form leaves them at risk of being caught.
Mark McGhee's side have yet to pick up a league win in 2016 and their frailties have seen them concede five last-minute goals since the turn of the year - including three in their last three games.
Those late slip-ups have not only hurt their survival hopes but also cost them their chance of making the William Hill Scottish Cup last eight after losing to Inverness last weekend.
But McManus also has faith his team can surge away from danger by repeating the kind of results which saw them enter January on the back of six straight matches without defeat.
He said: "They are all big games for us now but the next game is always the most important for us.
"When you are at our end of the table it's always one game at a time. And as soon as it's gone you learn from it, whatever the result, and go on to the next one.
"The good thing for us it that we believe we are capable of going on a run of five or six games because we've done it before this season.
"If we hadn't done that previously, I don't know if we'd genuinely believe we could do that sort of thing now but we have and we still have that confidence.
"However, it's already talking about these things but the proof is in the pudding and that will come on Saturday."
Ben Hall has been ruled out of the Killie clash, with the defender still to recover from the hamstring injury he suffered against Partick.
Lee Hodson admits he was desperate to go on loan to Kilmarnock to keep his Euro 2016 hopes alive.
The Northern Ireland international had only made eight appearances for MK Dons this season as the transfer deadline approached and he knew his chances of making Michael O'Neill's squad were fading.
But a deadline-day move to Rugby Park has given him fresh hope and he knows his chances of being on the plane to France now rest with him.
The 24-year-old, who has 15 caps, said: "I hadn't been playing as much football as I'd like to down at MK and I knew for a fact, if I wasn't playing, it's very hard to get in a squad.
"I knew I needed to go out and play football to give myself the best opportunity.
"If I come here and play until the end of the season, it's up to the manager to decide. If I don't get in the squad, that's football, at least I know I have given myself the best opportunity to get there.
"It's good to try new things and it was a club that interested me and I knew this club would probably give me one of the best chances to get in the squad for the summer for Northern Ireland and go to the Euros. It was a no-brainer.
"Firstly I need to be performing to get in the team here because it's a big squad. And if I'm performing on the pitch then hopefully it gives me a chance."
Kilmarnock midfielder Jamie Hamill is out of the encounter with Motherwell after suffering an ankle injury in training.
Defender Mark Connolly has been training but remains doubtful because of a knee injury while Kallum Higginbotham begins a two-match ban.
Darryl Westlake (ankle) and Chris Johnston (knee) are long-term absentees.
Source: PAR
