St Mirren keeper Jak Alnwick insisted Hamilton deserve the same level of attention as the Old Firm as he prepared for Wednesday’s visit of Accies.

Brian Rice’s side stormed to a thumping 4-1 Lanarkshire derby win over Motherwell at the weekend but remain above bottom side Ross County only goal difference with a game in hand.

Alnwick, who has helped Saints to wins over both Rangers and Celtic this season, has seen enough of Accies not to be complacent.

The 27-year-old, who joined Saints from Rangers last June, said: “I don’t think the table reflects how they have been this season.

“We beat them 1-0 at their place and I was quite busy that day and, when I look at other results, like against Rangers (1-1 draw) I thought they were miles the better team and probably deserved the three points.

“They have put in a lot of good performances and came away with nothing.

“They obviously had a great result against Motherwell, whom we played against a few times this season and we know they are a decent side.

“We know how good a lot of teams are in this division, we are going to approach it as we would any other game, as though we were playing against Rangers or Celtic – we will approach Hamilton the same.”

St Mirren sit in seventh place, one point behind Dundee United with two games in hand over the Tannadice side and with real prospect of a top-six finish.

“Obviously we can’t get carried away, there is still a lot of football to be played,” the former Newcastle and Port Vale keeper said.

“But the fact that at this stage of the season we are in a position where it is kind of in our own hands, is obviously brilliant.

“Obviously if we don’t win a game from now until the end of the season and end up in the bottom half then it is has been unsuccessful.

“But we have games in hand over a couple of teams so we are in a good position and we have it down to ourselves.”