Kilmarnock and Ross County will continue their fight to avoid the drop when they clash at Rugby Park in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday afternoon.
The two sides each have 35 points from their 33 league outings, leaving them with just a one-point lead over 11th-placed Dundee in the relegation-playoff place.
Match preview
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Kilmarnock have experienced an extremely underwhelming and disappointing 2024-25 campaign, falling from securing European football with a fourth-placed finish last season to battling against relegation this term.
Derek McInnes, in charge since January 2022, has led his side to just nine wins, eight draws and 16 defeats from their 33 league games, leaving them with 35 points from 33 outings.
Those results meant Kilmarnock finished ninth in the Scottish Premiership table, consigning them to competing in the relegation round of the post-split season.
As they lead Dundee, in the relegation playoff place, by only one point, Kilmarnock will be desperate to put a strong run of results together in their final five fixtures as they aim to ensure their safety in the top flight.
McInnes's side will kickstart their post-split fixtures with a crucial clash against Ross County, who sit joint on points with their hosts and trail them only on goal difference.
The Staggies have endured a difficult time in the top flight since securing a sixth-placed finish in 2021-22, placing 11th and competing in the relegation playoff match in each of the last two campaigns.
Ross County secured their survival by defeating Partick Thistle 5-4 on penalties after a 3-3 aggregate draw in 2022-23, followed by beating Raith Rovers 6-1 on aggregate in 2023-24.
Don Cowie, in charge since February 2024, will be aiming to steer his side clear of a third successive appearance in the relegation playoff place, meaning these final five fixtures are of paramount importance.
Ross County ended the campaign with four straight defeats, leaving them in poor form headed into this clash, but they will look to draw confidence from triumphing over Kilmarnock in all of their last three meetings.
Team News
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The hosts are anticipated to be without the services of Kyle Magennis (knee), Rory McKenzie (thigh) and Thomas Wilson-Brown (knock) due to ongoing injury issues.
Danny Armstrong is also a doubt for the clash, meaning David Watson may start in midfield with Fraser Murray featuring from a wider position.
Elsewhere, several changes could be made to the side that started in the 5-1 defeat to Celtic in their last outing, meaning Marley Watkins, Calvin Ramsey and Robbie Deas could start.
As for the visitors, Aidan Denholm (hamstring), Noah Chilvers (cruciate ligament) and Ryan Leak (Achilles tendon) are all ruled out through ongoing injury issues.
Ronan Hale and Jordan White both ended their scoring droughts with goals in the last match, and the pair are expected to continue their partnership in attack on Saturday.
Kilmarnock possible starting lineup:
O'Hara; Ramsey, Wright, Deas, Ndaba; Murray, Lyons, Watson, Donnelly, Kennedy; Watkins
Ross County possible starting lineup:
Amissah; Wright, Lopata, Campbell; Brown, Randall, Kenneh, Ashworth; Nisbet; White, Hale
We say: Kilmarnock 1-2 Ross County
Ross County may be in poor form headed into this clash, but the visitors have triumphed in each of the last three meetings with Kilmarnock, leading us to expect another win for the Staggies.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
