Jack McConnell has told party activist that he is "up for the fight" to retain power at Holyrood and will make his case on the streets and the TV studios.
The first minister also attacked the Scottish National Party.
He said: "The SNP don't come without independence - and independence doesn't come without a cost."
Mr McConnell delivered his attack during an address to the Scottish Labour Party's campaign conference in Dunblane on Saturday.
He began his speech by thanking and congratulating activists for their hard work over the winter months and wished them well in the "exciting" times ahead.
Mr McConnell restated Friday's announcement that in the first year of a third Labour term, almost 100,000 more school pupils would become entitled to free school meals.
He also stated that a third term would aim;
Mr McConnell said he was "up for the fight" because it was a fight for survival "not for me, but for my country".
He added: "I want to build up Scotland, not break Britain.
"Does anyone really believe that if the Nationalists take power, constitutional crisis will be deferred?
"My diary has been a bit too full with delivering for the people of Scotland, to make a date in Alex Salmond's empty schedule to meet him in a TV studio"
"The truth is that Alex Salmond would be unable to restrain himself."
He challenged voters by saying that if they truly believed Scotland should be separate from the rest of the UK, then they should vote for the SNP.
Mr McConnell went on: "If you don't believe it, don't vote SNP. There isn't a halfway house. There isn't a safe vote for Nationalism. If you believe it, vote for it - if you don't then you mustn't.
"The SNP don't come without independence - and independence doesn't come without a cost."
But SNP leader Alex Salmond accused Mr McConnell of negative campaigning and causing the nation to underperform.
He said: "If Mr McConnell had the slightest idea of how to build up Scotland, he would have done so over the past five years.
"Labour's problem in Scotland was memorably described by the former First Minister Henry McLeish, when he said that the Labour campaign is negative, extreme and London-based.
"The SNP will spend the next two months campaigning positively.
"If the people of Scotland put their trust in me as first minister, I know that I will lead a much more ambitious Scottish government."
Mr McConnell promised to lead the Labour campaign "every step of the way - in the constituencies, on the streets, to the people - and yes, when the time comes, the TV studio too".
Mr McConnell added: "And I'm sorry if, since he decided to quit the Scottish Parliament, my diary has been a bit too full with delivering for the people of Scotland, to make a date in Alex Salmond's empty schedule to meet him in a TV studio."
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