QPR boss Harry Redknapp admits they face a battle to keep Charlie Austin.
QPR are keen to convince their star man to extend his contract, which has only 18 months left to run, but Redknapp believes surviving the drop will prove the decisive factor.
"Do we need to stay up to keep him? Staying up will be very important," Redknapp said. "He's happy here and he wants to play in the Premier League now.
"He's had a taste of it and once you play in the Premier League you want to stay there. If he can go and get 20 goals this year that will help us do that."
