Mark McGhee believes double-header could potentially shape season

Manager Mark McGhee has described Motherwell's end-of-year double-header as potentially season defining.

The Fir Park side are one point ahead of Premiership bottom side Inverness, whom they travel to play on Wednesday night.

However, such is the congestion in the bottom part of the table that the 10th-placed Steelmen, without a win in five games, are only three points behind Ross County who are sixth.

After their trip to the Highlands, Motherwell face Lanarkshire rivals Hamilton at the SuperSeal Stadium on Hogmanay before the three-week January winter break and McGhee insists the two games will shape their return.

He said: "It is almost pivotal. It can kind of define our season in a way because if we get two good results, even a win and draw, whichever way round, remain unbeaten but win one of them, we will look forward to January and February and the rest of the season with a really positive, let's try to head for the top six, (attitude).

"If we don't, then I think we have to roll up our sleeves and accept that we are in a scrap, regardless of how we feel (if) we have done quite well.

"We should have won against Kilmarnock, could have won against St Johnstone and I don't think we should have been beaten against Aberdeen.

"The reality is that we only drew two and lost one so the reality is that we are in that position.

"So I think it is really important but I also see it as an opportunity to make that step up into the position where you are able to challenge seriously for the top six.

"But I don't think if we don't get enough out of these two games that we can realistically sit here and say 'were are a top-six team', but if we do get results from them then yes, I will be sitting here saying that.

"If we were to beat Inverness and Hamilton we would come back with no fear.

"If we had to lose both games then we would come back asking questions of ourselves."

Motherwell lost 3-0 at home to Inverness in October and McGhee is expecting another tough encounter.

The Scotland assistant manager said: We always struggle to play against Inverness because of their shape, the way they play, they are a good team and physically they are a good size.

"We should have no fears matching Inverness physically because we have become a team that is robust and can scrap our way out if it.

"But Inverness mix it up. They have that physical challenge but they have players who can score goals, a threat from set-plays and if you go behind against them you can find it very difficult."