Conor Sammon knows that he may be in the doghouse if he shoots down former club Kilmarnock this Saturday, but he is prepared to take the consequences if it means three points for Partick Thistle.

Sammon’s wife Caroline is an avid Killie supporter, but he hopes that his other half will be putting her blue and white leanings to the side for one day at least.

The striker admits it is a strange situation to go into such an important game against a side he himself has such depth of feeling towards, but he insists that the only thing on his mind when he steps out at Firhill will be getting a crucial win for the Jags.

“It’s a very unusual feeling, because I have a real soft spot for Kilmarnock given my time there,” said Sammon.

“I even met my wife there in my first spell. She’s a Killie fan, so I’ve been having a little bit of a laugh with her this week.

“Ultimately, she wants the best for me, so she will have to put her allegiances to the side come Saturday, which will be difficult for her to do probably. We’ll see how it goes!

“It could be the case I end up on the couch on Saturday night, but that would be a price worth paying to get the three points.

“There’s loads of lads there that I’ve played with and know really well from my time there last season especially.

“Gary Dicker I know really well, having grown up playing in the same schoolboy team, so it will be nice to see the familiar faces on Saturday, and it would be even nicer to be walking away with the win.

“I’ve got so many good memories of playing for Kilmarnock, but the victory for Thistle is the most important thing.”

The magnitude of the game, even given the early stage of the season, is not lost on Sammon or his Thistle teammates.

Far from feeling the pressure though, he says that Alan Archibald’s players are relishing the opportunity to give their season a real shot in the arm by pulling away from the league’s bottom side.

“It’s too early to be talking about six-pointers or anything like that, but we know it’s an important game given the form of both teams and our league positions,” he said.

“But it’s a huge opportunity for us in front of our home fans to go out and put on a real performance to get those three points and show what we can do.”

And Sammon himself is desperate to show the Jags support what he can do in front of goal.

Despite some impressive performances, particularly in the recent Betfred Cup quarter-final clash with Rangers, Sammon is yet to find the net for the eighth club of his career.

That is something he is determined to remedy, and he is working hard on his finishing in training to make sure he is as sharp as possible when chances do come his way in the coming weeks.

“I definitely want to add goals now,” he said. “The Rangers game was a classic example of me putting on a good performance but not getting a goal, and I know I’m capable of causing real problems for teams.

“It’s just a matter of being more clinical and punishing teams when you do get those opportunities, because that’s what you’re judged on as a striker.

“Yes, I’m delighted when I come off the pitch having played well, but it doesn’t compare with getting a goal or two to your name, which really helps the team as well as benefitting me.

“It’s just a case of keeping doing what I’m doing, and working on the things that I know I can improve. I’m sure the goals will come with the hard work that is going into it.”