CARETAKER boss Gary Teale is looking to downplay the pressure on St Mirren ahead of this afternoon's meeting with Motherwell.

The Paisley side will host fellow-strugglers Well this afternoon in a game that could be a defining result for either side.

With St Mirren, Motherwell and Ross County adrift at the foot of the table, today's game carried enormous significance.

There have been many parallels between the two clubs this season, but with Ian Baraclough newly in place at Fir Park and with a point to prove, the Lanarkshire side will have fresh impetus to push themselves up the table.

But despite the precariousness of St Mirren's position, Teale wants his players to go into the game relaxed.

"The last thing you want is players afraid to play, to express themselves and unwilling to try and make an influence for fear of making a mistake," he said.

"We all know where we are in terms of the table and we all know what is at stake. But you don't want players becoming panicked by the pressure.

"We have time to turn it around. There is a long way to go yet and, while it has been a difficult season up until now, we are capable of getting a run of results that would start to move us up a bit.

"The players need to know they have our trust. The spirit is still good, we haven't allowed their heads to go right down and it is important we try and move in the right direction."

Teale himself is still keen to take the job on a permanent basis, but is no further forward in hearing anything from the board.

And he is well aware his chances of landing the job would be helped significantly if he were to steer the club to a result today.

"I suppose in many ways you are on trial, but whatever happens, I feel it has been a good experience for me," he said.

"I have always known I wanted to stay in the game once my playing days were over, which is why I started working for my badges when I was still playing.

"But I know I will be judged on what the results are over the next few weeks and I hope I can manage to get some points on the board.

"It is a mini-league we have found ourselves in, but I don't think it is beyond us to move away from the situation we've found ourselves in."

With Baraclough taking charge of his first game at Motherwell, Teale expects a determined Fir Park side.

"There is always that thing when a new manager takes over and players want to prove themselves," said Teale.

"So we know Motherwell will come here looking to stamp their authority on the game and they have exactly the same mindset as us when it comes to getting out of the mire at the bottom. But we can only look after ourselves.

"There is still belief here that we are too good to be at the bottom of the league, but the onus is on us now to prove that.

"Getting a result would hopefully give us the chance to kick-start our season and try and start moving in the right direction."

And Teale himself is not unsettled by the uncertainty of his own position.

"I think you have to treat it as though you are here for the long-term.

"You can't think you are just filling in, you have to act like the manager and keep your mind on the fact you have a job to do and right now that is trying to keep us in the SPFL."