Martin Canning is keeping his fingers crossed key men Darian MacKinnon and James Keatings will be fit for their Boxing Day clash with Hearts.

Accies claimed a well-deserved point on Saturday as they held high-flying Kilmarnock to a point at the Hope Stadium. But the result came at a cost as skipper MacKinnon and frontman Keatings both went off injured.

St Mirren's win over Motherwell means Hamilton now have just a two-point cushion on the relegation zone and Canning is desperate to have as strong a side as possible when they take on a Jambos side who dished out a 4-1 beating when they last met back in August.

He said: "It's not ideal when you need to make changes. Daz and Keats picked up knocks. "The boys who came on did well. Daz felt his calf but it was tight before the game and we didn't risk it.

"Keats has a dead leg and it's about them getting as much treatment as possible now before Wednesday."

Killie were looking for the win which would have moved them up to second spot but instead find themselves sliding down to fourth after Saturday's draw. Eamonn Brophy netted against his old side as he put Steve Clarke's team ahead seven minutes in.

But he went from hero to sinner nine minutes before the break when he handled inside the box to set up Mickel Miller's equaliser from the penalty spot.

Clarke was frustrated but he reckons the 2,200 travelling supporters who packed out the away end will have been pleased with what they saw from their team.

He said: "The travelling support have been fantastic. There were more here last year. It was cheaper then and we filled that gazebo on the other side too.

"You heard them and the team gave them lots to shout about. They were trying to suck the ball in at the end when we were the only team trying to win it.

"The fans will probably go home disappointed but they shouldn't. At the end of the season we will know if that was a good point or a bad point."