Hamilton caretaker boss Martin Canning insists he will not be tripped up as he juggles his playing duties with managing Accies.
The 33-year-old centre-half has been handed the reigns at New Douglas Park in the wake of pal Alex Neil's move to Norwich.
Canning dropped himself for his dug-out debut against Dundee United last week but was back in the starting line-up as Hamilton lost 2-0 to Celtic on Saturday.
Interim St Mirren manager Gary Teale has decided to hang up his boots because he does not feel he is able to combine both jobs.
But former Ross County, Gretna and Hibernian defender Canning insists he can manage and play at the same time.
He said: "It can be strange. You probably see more of the game when you are playing but when you are at the side you also see things you don't spot when you're playing.
"But I watched the Celtic game back and my thoughts then were pretty similar to the thoughts I had while I was playing.
"Striking the balance between being a player and a manager will be difficult but it's something I will just have to deal with. I know having spoken to Alex that it was something he found difficult to start with, but Saturday has proved to me I can do (it) if this is something I'm going to carry on doing.
"I know other guys have decided they can't manage both but at the minute I think I'm still able to offer something as a player. I still see myself as a player and I want to be out there.
"I don't know how the board are thinking and whether they would prefer someone to be fully concentrated on managing but basing it on the short period I've been here, I don't think playing is effecting how good a job I'm doing.
"The first week against United I didn't play because I'd had a lot to take on in such a short space of time. But I had a full week to prepare before the Celtic game and I didn't feel it affected me at all."
Canning has yet to declare if he wants the Accies job for keeps.
But if he does decide to apply, he will face competition from the 60-plus rivals who have already put their names forward - including former Rangers midfielder and Italian World Cup winner Rino Gattuso.
Canning, whose side will hope to respond to back-to-back defeats against United and the Hoops when they face Partick on Wednesday, said : "It's testament to the success the club has had that we have now got all these big names being linked with the job.
"When you hear names like Gattuso then it is great for the club and the exposure it gets. It says something is going right."
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