Garry Hay confident of Kilmarnock success

The Rugby Park side could have effectively secured their berth against St Mirren on Wednesday but were held to a 1-1 draw, and now must beat Dundee at home to guarantee staying in the top half when the league splits this evening.

However, Hay believes the demands of today’s game are incomparable to the tension they came through on the final day of the 2009-10 season, when they got the point they needed against Falkirk to stay up.

The left-sided player said: “There is a lot at stake but the club survived a relegation battle a few years ago. There’s pressure but there is no real pressure. We will just go out and do our best and that’s all we can do.

“With regards to the young boys feeling the pressure, they don’t to be honest. They are young and confident and level-headed. They will just concentrate on their game.

“The likes of James Fowler and myself and even big Manuel (Pascali) – who is not going to be playing but will be in the dressing room – I think our experience will help. And you have guys like Paul Heffernan and Kris Boyd who have been over the course before.”

Hay said he would have taken Kilmarnock’s position at the start of the season, which he missed because of a lengthy lay-off following knee surgery.

He said: “We lost a lot of boys over the course of the season, especially in January – Michael Nelson, Liam Kelly and Lee Johnson. They are not easily replaced.

“All teams at the start of the season have aspirations to finish as high as we can and we hope to be in the mix for the top six. We have left it in our own destiny and it’s a good position to be in.”

Dundee interim manager John Brown, meanwhile, insists relegation will not enter their thoughts going into the match.

Brown’s side, who are 14 points adrift at the foot of the SPL, could go back down to the First Division if they lose and results elsewhere do not go in their favour.

However, Brown said: “We have to think positive. There is nothing else for it in our position.”