Preview: Kilmarnock vs. Ross County - prediction, team news, lineups

Two Scottish Premiership sides in desperate need of three points will lock horns on Saturday afternoon as Kilmarnock host Ross County in a crucial relegation battle.

Killie are aiming to claim back-to-back league victories for the first time since October, while the Staggies are looking to pick up successive top-flight victories over the hosts within the same season for the first time since the 2015-16 campaign.

Match preview

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After ending a 10-game winless league run with a 4-1 victory against Motherwell in March, Kilmarnock followed that up with a 4-0 win in the Scottish Cup against League Two outfit Stenhousemuir last weekend.

A hat-trick from Kyle Lafferty and a late strike from George Oakley helped seal Killie's place in the fourth round, where they will face League One side Montrose next week.

Manager Tommy Wright will be pleased to have progressed to the next round but his priority remains survival in the Scottish Premiership, with just five league games left to play.

Kilmarnock are currently in 11th place, one point behind this weekend's opponents Ross County, who they have beaten in three of their last four home meetings, including a 3-1 victory earlier this season.

Claiming another three points on Saturday would move Killie out of the bottom two and four points behind Motherwell in ninth, if they were to lose to St Mirren.

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Ross County suffered their third successive defeat in all competitions when they were knocked out of the Scottish Cup to Inverness Caledonian Thistle last weekend, losing 3-1 on home soil.

The Staggies took the lead through Billy Mckay, but Inverness striker Nikolay Todorov smashed in an equaliser just before half time before Daniel MacKay and Shane Sutherland sealed an impressive away victory for the Championship outfit, eliminating the hosts at this stage of the competition for the first time since the 2014-15 campaign.

Ross County have struggled away from home throughout this campaign and have lost 10 of their last 12 matches on the road. In addition, only basement club Hamilton Academical (35) have conceded more away goals in this season's Scottish Premiership than the Dingwall-based side (28).

The Staggies – who are currently 10th in the table – have failed to win any of their last five visits to Kilmarnock, but claiming three much-needed points on Saturday could see John Hughes's men climb four points above the bottom two, if Hamilton were to lose against Dundee United.

Team News

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Kilmarnock's only injury concern is winger Greg Kiltie, who remains doubtful with a shoulder problem.

Right-back Ross Millen is back from suspension and is in contention to start ahead of Aaron McGowan.

Striker Lafferty, who has scored five goals in six games since joining the club in February, is set to lead the line once again this weekend.

Ross County left-back Carl Tremarco remains unavailable for selection with a hamstring injury.

Defender Callum Morris is also out with a similar issue, while Connor Randall and Tom Grivosti are both ruled out for the rest of the season with back and hamstring injuries respectively.

Teenage defender Leo Hjelde, who is on loan from Celtic, could keep his place in the starting lineup at left wing-back.

Kilmarnock possible starting lineup:
Doyle; Millen, Broadfoot, Medley, Haunstrup; Power, Dicker; Burke, McKenzie, Pinnock; Lafferty

Ross County possible starting lineup:
Laidlaw; Donaldson, Watson, Iacovitti; Naismith, Paton, Lakin, Tillson, Hjelde; Mckay; White

We say: Kilmarnock 2-1 Ross County

Both Kilmarnock and Ross County are in desperate need of three points, and the two teams will fancy their chances of securing a positive result on Saturday.

Killie's last two results will have given them a confidence boost as they head down the home straight, and we feel that the hosts may take advantage of the away side's poor away form with a narrow victory at Rugby Park.