Ross County manager Owen Coyle says his current pool of players must show him they are worthy of a future at the club.
Coyle has already indicated he is keen to strengthen his squad in the January transfer window, to add to the capture of former Manchester United winger Chris Eagles last month.
Former Burnley and Bolton Wanderers manager Coyle inherited a side low on confidence when he replaced Jim McIntyre in September, but after initially showing an upturn in form with three wins from his opening six games, County have failed to win in their last six.
With Coyle’s first transfer window fast approaching, the Staggies manager says he must make judgment calls on his squad based on what he has seen so far.
Coyle said: “I said to the players after the game on Saturday, it’s a simple scenario for me.
“They need to show me that they want to be part of Ross County, and show they have the necessary tools and abilities.
“They have done that in fairness. In our first six games we took 10 points, while in the last six we have taken two when we should have taken a bit more.
“The bottom line is, had we taken four or five more in the last week, we would be sitting around eighth in the table.
“At the end of the day it’s about understanding where we can get better, and knowing that’s the bits and pieces we need to improve on.
“If we do, it will see us catapulting up the league.”
Some players have found opportunities limited under Coyle, such as attackers Billy Mckay, Thomas Mikkelsen and midfielder Tim Chow.
Coyle says players must make the most of their chances when they arise, adding: “I always felt as a player, every week I was playing to be in the team for the next week. That’s the way I was, I wanted to be in that team.
“The only way you do that is by playing very well. If you don’t, then you leave yourself open to not being in the team.
“That then has a knock-on effect, because the more weeks you’re not in the team, everybody comes under the same jurisdiction.”
