Malky Mackay insists Watford will not be merely showing up to Queens Park Rangers’ promotion party tomorrow [Saturday] and insists his players will be fighting for their positions next season.

The Hornets’ play-off dreams were mathematically ended on Monday but tomorrow’s penultimate fixture is far from a dead rubber as QPR come to Vicarage Road hoping to secure the point they need to effectively secure the Championship title.

Mackay said: “I have promised our fans we will be competitive in every game and our fans will be going to the game as well as the good following from QPR.

“There will be plenty of media coverage of the game and my youngsters want to go out there and perform. There are people playing for different things in terms of their position for next year and some may manage to get their first game or two for the club.

“Danny [Graham] is obviously going for top scorer as well so there is plenty for us to play for. We also want to finish as high up the table as possible.

“They are the best team in the division and they are going for the title so they will certainly be going hard at it and we have to make sure we match them.”

QPR are six points clear of third-place Cardiff City and five points in front of Norwich City, with a goal difference which is 14 higher than the Canaries. So a point on Saturday will confirm promotion and, baring something incredible, secure the title as well, although Norwich and Cardiff do not play until Monday.

Watford legends Heidar Helguson and Tommy Smith have been regulars for Rangers this season and Mackay is pleased his two friends look set to return to the Premier League.

“They are two fantastic servants of Watford and two guys that have certainly got a great affinity with our fans,” Mackay said.

“I was fortunate enough to manage both of them for a short period and play with one and against another. So I know them both very well and I am delighted for both of them because what they are, is not just talented footballers but great professionals.”

Watford are expected to include a number of youngsters in their squad, largely due to the Hornets’ injury problems of late.

Scholars Gavin Massey, Sean Murray, Adam Thompson, Britt Assombalonga and Chez Isaac will be hoping they can force their way into the 18-man squad, having already been handed professional contracts by the club.

Watford have been struggling with injuries in recent weeks and Mackay has confirmed midfielder Ross Jenkins will miss the rest of the season with an ankle ligament injury, which is expected to keep him out for four to six weeks.

Matty Whichelow and Andreas Weimann are both doubts for the game. Mackay has his “fingers crossed” Whichelow will be involved after he took part in yesterday’s (Thursday’s) warm up but while Weimann’s scan results this week were positive, the QPR game may have come too soon.

The manager expected the on-loan Aston Villa striker to be out for the season with the metatarsal injury when he came off in Monday’s defeat to Leicester City but he only suffered heavy bruising.

Summer-signing Tom Aldred and former QPR trainee Michael Bryan are both back in training but Mackay admitted they may find it hard to force their way back into contention as the youngsters already in the squad “have not done anything wrong to not be involved”.