Lee Clark hopes his Kilmarnock squad are inspired to ensure their next two matches against title chasers Aberdeen and Celtic aren't their last for a while as they battle to avoid the drop.

The Ayrshire side currently sit in the Premiership play-off spot ahead of Saturday's trip to Pittodrie before hosting Ronny Deila's Scottish champions on March 19.

Clark has yet to taste victory since replacing Gary Locke as manager last month and he admits the prospect of taking on the country's biggest clubs on a regular basis should ensure his players are up for the fight.

He told STV: "The next two games for me on a personal level are really exciting.

"They are one of the main reasons I wanted to come and take this challenge, to have these opportunities of taking on the big clubs.

"Playing Celtic and Aberdeen, that’s a big reason why we have got to stay in this league next season. Rangers look just about done and dusted in terms of coming up, Falkirk will have a big say in it but potentially you could have Hibs too.

"So you could have Celtic, Rangers, Hearts, Hibs and Aberdeen, which would make the league even stronger and an exciting place to be next season and you’d have a big game on the horizon most weekends."

Clark also confirmed Jamie Hamill, Scott Robinson and Ross Barbour have been told they are free to find new clubs after finding themselves surplus to requirements at Rugby Park.

He said: "As we go on there will be changes, it's inevitable. We've got football to concentrate on but those lads and their agents have handled that situation really well. I informed them personally of the decision and we're looking to trim the squad.

"We're looking for quality rather than quantity and that'll be my remit as well going forward in the transfer windows. I want to improve the quality and we don't need lots and lots of players to do that.

"We have a good youth system here which can enhance our first team squad and if we get the right signings in going forward then we have good youngsters to bring through to add to the squad.

"Signing lots and lots of players is not the answer, it is signing quality players."