Jim Jefferies insists his players can no longer hide behind the excuse of a long injury list as they loiter towards the foot of the SPL.The Rugby Park outfit have been hampered by injury problems for much of the season but Jefferies now has a near full strength squad and he expects their form to pick up.

His second-bottom side face league leaders Rangers at Rugby Park on Sunday and Jefferies knows his players will need to show their true character to take something from the game.

Jefferies said: "The boys who have been out injured have maybe not had the games but they've had a few more weeks training now and they're getting back.

"So I'm afraid the excuses of injuries and lack of confidence are now wearing thin and we've got to do something about it.

"I think the players showed fight and determination last week against Motherwell and if we continue to show the same fight and determination until the end of the season then we'll start to pick up points and we will certainly need that on Sunday."

Despite the improvement at Motherwell, David Clarkson's late goal pinched all three points for the home side.

Former Killie stars Kris Boyd and Steven Naismith could face their old team-mates if Walter Smith picks the pair for tomorrow's clash.

Jefferies knows that, whoever the Rangers manager selects, Kilmarnock face a tough task.

He said: "I'd be very surprised if Kris and Stevie didn't play but Walter has got options in there and he's lucky to have them because I don't.

"If they do play them then the one good thing is they are leaving another two out that are very good players and we've trained and played enough with 'Boydie' and 'Naisy' to know what they're like and what they'll do.

"If they don't play, then Rangers have got plenty that will come in and cause you problems and that is why they are top of the league."

Killie striker Gary Wales believes even a draw on Sunday could revive the Rugby Park side's season.

Wales said: "Probably the worst team you could face when you're on a wee bit of a downward slope would be either Rangers or Celtic.

"But Rangers is the game we've got ahead of us. Hopefully we can do really well and with it being at Rugby Park we can get something from it.

"It doesn't matter who we get points from because we need points from whoever we're playing.

"It's probably not a very good time to be playing Rangers as they're going for the title.

"But if we can get something from it then that'll gee the boys up more than if we took points off a team we were expected to."

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