Queens Park Rangers captain Joey Barton believes that the team are not just playing for survival in the Premier League but are fighting for their livelihoods.
The West London side are currently lingering in the bottom three of the table, in danger of returning to the Championship after just one season in the top flight.
Mark Hughes's side have a tough run-in, with Arsenal due to visit Loftus Road on Saturday.
"We're as desperate for the points as they are - for totally different reasons obviously," Barton told the club's official website. "But there are livelihoods on the line here. People's careers are on the line.
"I'm not sure that's the case at Arsenal to be honest. They'll want to win the game because they're professionals and they'll want to finish in the Champions League places, which is a minimum requirement for them.
"But there are lads here whose careers are on the line and we have to realise that. This is more than a game of football now. The next eight games govern our futures."
Barton could return to Rangers' starting lineup after being benched for QPR's 3-1 defeat to Sunderland last weekend.
Danielle Joynson
