Dundee United striker Johnny Russell is desperate to tie up fourth spot before waiting to see if it will be enough to qualify for Europe.
The Tangerines have two routes to continental competition left to them. The first is to pip Hearts for third spot, thus guaranteeing their qualification for the Europa League regardless of what happens elsewhere.
The second is to stay where they are in fourth and see if they benefit when the SPL title and Scottish Cup are decided.
A league win for Rangers and a cup win for Celtic would mean the Euro door would be opened.
Kilmarnock, the visitors to Tannadice today, are the team snapping at their heels in the SPL, only five points behind in fifth, so a home win will put United in the box seat.
“Both Killie and ourselves have a lot to play for because there is still a chance that fourth can get you into Europe,” said Russell.
“It needs things to fall in the right way for whoever finishes fourth but if we can make sure we get there then we will have some sort of a chance.
“We enjoyed being in Europe last year and would love to get there again. Finishing fifth gives you absolutely no chance so there is a great incentive to win this match and I am sure the Killie boys will be thinking the same.
“What happens elsewhere is out of our hands but finishing fourth isn’t so that’s our goal.”
Russell’s gaffer Peter Houston revealed that so far he hasn’t even pondered the possibility of repeating the Europa League qualification of last season.Enjoyed”I have overlooked the European thing,” he said. “If it happened it would be great because we enjoyed it last season and were the width of a post from going through against AEK Athens on away goals in Greece.
“So if it were to happen we would be thrilled but the main thing is staying in that fourth place.
“That is in our own hands. We can control what we do and then would have to see what happens elsewhere and what it brings. It could be a wee added bonus at the end of the season.
“We are five points ahead of Killie with five games to go. If we beat them then it would make it more difficult for them to get to us.
“I still think Hearts are too far ahead for us to get in third place and they would have to blow up, which I think is unlikely.
“But I would like to think if we win this weekend we would be able to see it out for fourth.
“We always like to improve and we got 63 points last season and have 52 just now.
“It will be hard to get to last season’s tally but when you consider the injuries and suspensions we have had then it is not bad going.
“I certainly won’t be saying the boys can’t do it because they love a challenge.”
Both the Tangerines and Ayrshire men suffered 4-0 home defeats at the hands of the Old Firm in midweek, with Killie losing to Celtic the night after United hosted Rangers.
However, Russell expects both sets of players to be fully recovered in time for the lunchtime kick-off.
“Killie had a similar defeat to the one we had so both teams are looking to bounce back,” he said.
“We have shown we can do it, like when we came off the back of losing to Motherwell to beat Rangers at Ibrox.
“The games we have had against Killie have been great, open matches so I don’t think this one will be any different.”CrackerHouston also believes the spectators could be in for a cracker.
“The game at Tannadice earlier in the season was one of the best I have been involved in,” said the United boss.
“I think both (then Killie boss) Mixu Paatelainen and myself both came out afterwards to say how good a game it was.”
United will have to make a raft of changes to the team that lost to Rangers, with Morgaro Gomis, Sean Dillon and Mihael Kovacevic joining Paul Dixon on the suspended list.
However Keith Watson will be available after injury and Russell is confident they can cope with the absences.
“We have been used to rejigging things this season and will have to do the same this time,” he added.
“The lads have had to deal with a lot of injuries and suspensions so we have guys who can play in a few positions.
“Obviously it is not ideal to have four suspended for one game but we will get on with it.”
Kilmarnock are still without Mehdi Taouil (hamstring), Frazer Wright (shoulder) and Mohamadou Sissoko (groin).
Scott Evans is sidelined with a hernia problem requiring an operation.
James Dayton is pushing for a first start following his recovery from cruciate ligament damage.