PARTICK THISTLE forward Kallum Higginbotham has backed Lyle Taylor to shoot the Jags to a successful revenge mission against Hibs at Firhill today.

The fleet-footed frontman has struck five times since his January loan move to Thistle from Sheffield United, including the invaluable brace that sunk Aberdeen a fortnight back and handed Alan Archibald's men their first win on the hallowed soil of Firhill this term.

Ahead of today's visit from a Hibees side whom Thistle have suffered nothing but frustration and disappointment against, Higgy reckons that Taylor's strike instincts could prove crucial in a game he reckons will, much like the first two meetings between the clubs, be very tight.

But with that home win against the red-hot Dons backed up by a gutsy point in the relegation six-pointer at Ross County last week, the Jags star says his side are going into the fixture with high hopes and great expectations.

Higginbotham said: "Tayls has averaged a one-in-two strike rate since he got here in January and he has really made a difference to us up top. He is big and powerful and he can hold the ball up well and, as we know, when he gets a chance he almost always finds the target.

"With us tending to go with one up he has come in and taken some of that burden off Kris Doolan. Tayls is one of these guys who is a confident sort and, like I say, with him not scoring against County last week, he is due a goal against Hibs.

"So it is vital that we give him the service he requires, but that win over Aberdeen gave us such a boost in terms of positivity. Having consolidated it with the draw at County we are absolutely determined to keep developing our momentum and finally get the better of Hibs."

Higginbotham will no doubt be a key player for Partick this afternoon from his left-sided berth in a three-man deployment just behind Taylor.

The ebullient Englishman admits he is revelling in his first season with the Jags.

The 24-year-old said: "I feel like I have really settled in well and it has been great in recent games to start getting in among the goals with two against Motherwell and then the opener up at Dingwall.

"We feel like we have been close to really clicking and going on a run on a number of occasions this season, but hopefully this will finally be our moment to kick on.

"The fans have been fantastic with us at Firhill, despite the fact it had taken us so long to get the win. But they can see how hard we are trying to play the game in the correct fashion and with them behind us again we fancy the job against Hibs."

There is no doubt that painful memories of the first two meetings with the capital club have served as a powerful motivation ahead of today's tussle with Terry Butcher's men.

Higgy went on: "This afternoon is all about going out there and producing a performance that underlines just what we are capable of."