Sunderland MUST avoid defeat at Birmingham on Saturday otherwise their Premiership status is over and Kilbane is prepared to play on with the niggling injury.
"My groin has been very sore again this week and I didn't train early on but I did some light training on Thursday," Kilbane told the clubs official website.
"I managed to play right through against Chelsea and hopefully it will be OK again tomorrow.
"It's just one of those niggling injuries you get at this stage of the season."