Hughes believes Queens Park Rangers could benefit from being the 'underdog' in relegation scrap

The Rs manager believes his struggling side could benefit from being outsiders as they attempt to avoid Premier League relegation despite a tough remaining fixture list

Mark Hughes has claimed Queens Park Rangers' tag as 'underdogs' could actually work in their favour as they scramble to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

The Loftus Road side will face seven of the current top eight teams in their last 10 league fixtures as they attempt to fight for survival.

And Hughes told reporters: "It's not easy - we make no bones about that. It's a difficult run-in.

"Maybe, going into those games, the pressure is off somewhat, bizarrely."We're the underdogs and we're not expected to win. We can use that as a positive and hopefully gain from that.

"There are going to be twists and turns," continued the Rangers manager. "We know each game is going to be crucial, irrespective of the opposition we're going up against.

"It's really key we perform at our maximum.

"If we do that then, certainly in our home games, we can take on anybody."

Hughes took over at Loftus Road in January after Neil Warnock was sacked after a poor run of form, and while their results haven't noticeably picked up, the former Wales boss is happy with the ability in his squad.

He continued: "We haven't helped ourselves on some occasions and, on other occasions, circumstances have gone against us.

"But we're still very, very confident that we have enough ability to make sure that we're still in the Premier League next year.

"It's going to take hard work - we realise that - and we're not going to stick our heads in the sand and think otherwise.

"But we've got enough quality to score enough goals and defend our goal as well.

"That gives me confidence that, in the next games that we have, we'll get points on the board."

QPR have been unlucky in recent weeks, losing key players to injury and also seeing refereeing deciasions go against them, particularly Clint Hill's goal that was not given against relegation rivals Bolton Wanderers.

Hughes added: "We just need a fair crack of the whip.

"If we perform as we know we can, at our maximum, and we get that element of luck that you have to have to be successful then we'll be fine.

"But it needs to start quickly and it needs to start on Wednesday [at home to Liverpool]."

The former Manchester United striker was bouyed by the return of DJ Campbell to training and the possible comeback of Heidar Helguson, who has been out for two months with a groin injury.

Hughes said: "We're hoping to get the green light from his [Helguson's] surgeon, because he feels really good, feels he can step up his rehab.

"Hopefully, we can get him involved and do some more functional work for the next couple weeks and then he should be back."