Kilmarnock manager Kenny Shiels says a win over Dundee United on Tuesday night would be of greater significance than their weekend victory over Rangers.

The Ayrshire side recorded back-to-back wins against the Ibrox club, winning 1-0 in Glasgow after a similar result at Rugby Park in November.

Victory also lifted Shiels’ side into the Scottish Premier League’s top six, with seven games left to play before the split.

Defeat to United though would see the Terrors immediately leapfrog them in the table and Shiels is counting on his side establishing a four point gap, rather than slipping behind.

“It carries more benefit if we can take points off Dundee United than it does against Rangers,” Shiels told STV.

“If you take points off a competitor in your region in the league, then you're hurting them as well. The Dundee United game is a much bigger game for us.”

Killie have recorded two draws against United this season, with both games ending 1-1 between the two sides.

Their last encounter saw the Tannadice club equalise in the final minute but Shiels says his team didn’t deserve to take all three points on that occasion.

“We've had two games this season we've got points from that we shouldn't have,” he said. “We beat St Mirren in the first game of 2012 and, to be honest, we were lucky to beat St Mirren.

“Our draw at home to Dundee United, when we conceded right at the death, over the balance of play they should have been three or four up at half-time.

“They were better than us. But in every one of our 11 draws aside from that one, we really were unlucky.

“So that's what football does. It gives you little examples of being in the luck debt. We're definitely owed some. We've been short changed for most of the season.”