DOUGIE Imrie has urged his players to produce their best performance of the season to date as the Morton boss plots a Scottish Cup shock against Motherwell.

The 38-year-old knows how difficult it will be to knock out Graham Alexander's side who are sitting in fourth spot in the Premiership.

Imrie says his players will need to be at their best to nullify the Steelmen's threat and he hopes their hard work and planning on the training pitch this week pays off.

He told the Tele: “It’s a massive game. Graham Alexander has got his team flying this season - they’ve been outstanding.

“We’re under no illusions as to how difficult a tie that it’s going to be but it’s one that I expect us to go and give our all in no matter what.

“The last few weeks have been excellent but we’re going to play against a Premiership opposition who’ll let us know that we’re going to be in a game.

“We really need to be at it because we’re playing against players from the top level so we need to be ready for the battle.

“They’re a Premiership team with quality players and we cannot afford to give them a sniff because if you give them an inch then they’ll take a mile.

“It’s been a tough week on the training pitch for the players as we prepare for the game as I've been trying to implement my ideas and preparations on how Motherwell will play and then how we can try and combat that.

“But we’ll just need to wait and see what happens come three o’clock tomorrow."

Imrie refused to take credit for their turnaround in form and insists their three-game unbeaten run in the league has all been down to the players.

He said: “I’m not going to take any credit for the turnaround in form, it’s all down to the players.

“They’re the ones who have put in the performances over the last few weeks, not me.

“I’ve just come in with a few fresh ideas in how I want them to play and they’ve just gone and taken it to another level on the park, so long may that continue.

“We can't afford to get too high with the victories when they come because there will be days where we won't win and we’ll need to deal with that when they come but we’re under no illusions as to how tough this game against Motherwell will be tomorrow.”

Imrie says he takes great satisfaction in seeing his players play with a smile on their faces after a run of form that has saw them climb to seventh in the table.

He asked for more of the same from his group ahead of another tough test against Alexander’s men in the fourth round tie.

He added: “It’s great to see the players so confident and with a smile on their faces too, that’s what I love getting out of coaching if I'm being honest.

“You can only get that confidence by winning games of football though and it’s all down to them.

“As soon as the players cross that white line on a Saturday it’s down to them.

“Every single one of them have stood up and have been counted so far and they’ll need to do the same again tomorrow.”