HAMILTON skipper Alex Neil says his mates must get the basics right if they want to take anything from the Lanarkshire derby with Motherwell at Fir Park.

Billy Reid's men have lost their last five SPL fixtures on the bounce and slumped to bottom of the SPL.

But while Accies have already beaten Well in a pulsating Co-operative Insurance Cup tie 2-1, Neil says that will only serve to make the Fir Park re-match a tougher day's work for the New Douglas Park men.

He said: "The two things we have to get right is taking our chances when they come along and starting to keep clean sheets again.

"It is all about getting the basics right and on Tuesday at Ibrox we didn't pass the ball well or keep it long enough to give ourselves a chance of staying in the tie.

"But away from home in a derby you have to get the basics right or you are made to pay.

"So that will be where our focus lies at Fir Park this time around.

"But we must take something from the game and give ourselves a platform while also putting an end to this slump."

However Accies hopes of derby success have been undermined by the loss of key stopper Chris Swailes who tweaked a hamstring in the 2-0 Co-op Cup defeat by Rangers as well as suffering head gash that needed 10 stitches.

But skipper Neil believes that his side has the defensive cover in place to cope.

And he said: "Chris has been superb for us this season.

"But Martin Canning's suspension is up and he is ready to come back so we have cover to cope.

"We know that Motherwell will be out for revenge on Saturday as our win there was the first for Accies in years, but if we can do it once we know we can do it again."