Fulham centre-back John Heitinga has insisted that the club's players remain confident of escaping the relegation zone and achieving survival in the Premier League this season.

Heitinga admitted that being five points adrift with a terrible goal difference and just five games to play makes the challenge huge, but believes that Fulham have the talent in the squad to manage it.

"You have to believe we can still do it, I believe we can," he told the club's official website. "The only thing that matters right now is the club's survival - we just need to find the way.

"This is the first time I've been involved in a relegation battle, but you have to deal with the same pressures as when you are challenging for trophies.

"Of course, the trophy for us will be staying up in the Premier League. It's a real challenge but it's up to us to play as well as we can between now and theend of the season."

Fulham would move to just two points behind Norwich City with a win over them on Saturday.