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Lochlin Highet

Kilmarnock v Arbroath: Dean Campbell promises players will turn up for special occasion

Turn up to Rugby Park and witness something special.

That’s the message coming out of Kilmarnock this week – and Dean Campbell insists the players will return the favour by leaving everything on the pitch.

A win for the Ayrshire side on Friday night will bag their first league title since 1965, and midfielder Campbell, who has been filling in at left back, insists they are well up for it.

The gap to Arbroath was slashed to just one point after Killie lost 2-1 to Inverness, but a win on Friday night against the Lichties live on the BBC will ensure Derek McInnes’ side are heading back to the Scottish Premiership with a game to spare.

Speaking exclusively to the Kilmarnock Standard Campbell said: “We have responded in the right way after the Inverness game.

“Obviously there was the initial disappointment from the game, and the result, but we just had to dust ourselves down and forget about it early.

“The full focus is now on the Arbroath game, we have been upbeat in training, the manager is positive, he is stressing the message that we know what to do.

Kilmarnock's Dean Campbell (R) and Arbroath's Nicky Low (L) (SNS Group)

“A win on Friday will win us the league, that’s all we can think about, when Friday comes we should be good to go.

“If we were offered a situation like this before a ball was kicked you’d probably take it, win a game at home to win the league.

“The objective from the start of the season was to get back to the Premiership, and we now have the chance to do that.

“It’s down to us now, we need to get the job done.”

He added: “It will be a brilliant occasion, I am sure the Killie fans will come in their numbers to support us.

“It will be a great atmosphere, and hopefully we can make them enjoy their night.

All going well it will be a special night for the club, under circumstances if you can make it we would encourage everyone to come along.

“We will need you there in full support, if you back us we will give you everything on the pitch.”

Campbell admits he’s delighted his former Aberdeen boss McInnes is in charge for this occasion.

He’s handled a number of huge matches during his management career, Campbell also has big match experience too.

He was part of the Dons team who beat Celtic at Celtic Park to finish second, and he also featured in a Scottish Cup quarter final win against Rangers.

Campbell said: “He knows how to handle these occasions, these are the games that the manager loves the most, and it’s the same for us as players.

“He will keep us right this week, it won’t be any different, it’ll just be a usual week with us focusing on winning the game.”

On his own experience he said: “I have been lucky in my career to play in some really big games already.

I know the pressure that comes in these games, the atmosphere, I feel that I am ready for it.

“I have been successful in some of these games before, and I am hoping to do the same on Friday.

“That experience will help me, playing in front of big crowds isn’t something you get every week, but you lap it up and enjoy it.

“You want to work hard for the paying fans who are parting with their money.

“It’d be my first medal at senior level, that’s why I came here, I wanted to be part of something special.

“Winning a title wherever you may be is memorable and it would stick with me forever.”

Campbell had nothing but praise for Arbroath who have been punching above their weight all season.

He said: “They have done very well this year, I am sure no one on the outside really expected them to be here, but internally they’ll have felt all year that they can make a push for it.

“We have played them three times and haven’t got the better of them, we know what to expect, we will be ready for the game.”

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