THE new Premiership season starts here for Partick Thistle as we prepare to face Ross County tonight at Firhill.

The squad has worked hard and were raring to go at the weekend, so it was disappointing that our scheduled match at Celtic was postponed because their stadium is being restored after the Commonwealth Games.

Manager Alan Archibald and I watched other teams playing on Saturday and were wishing it was us in action. But tonight our boys get their chance to show what they can do.

Last year our home form was frustrating so it's important we get off to a good start. It is also important for us that we have the first game at Firhill.

Staying up is the main aim but myself, Alan and the boys know we are good enough to push on for a place in the top six.

While not setting out precise targets there is no reason why we can't secure a place in the top half of the league.

Last year showed how close it was between the mid-table clubs. There was a thin line between making the top six and not.

We will be looking to improve on last season and that means pushing for a top-half finish.

There is no Hearts or Hibs in the top flight this term and only Celtic, Aberdeen and Dundee United will feel sure they'll be at the top end of the table.

That means everyone else will be battling for the other three spots in the top six. Hopefully we will get one of them.

I am really happy with the three players we have managed to get in so far this summer.

It is important you don't rush in and buy players just for the sake of it and we've avoided that mistake. Abdul Osman has come in and settled in well, and you would think Ryan Stevenson had been here for a couple of years.

We signed Dan Seaborne on Monday and he will be a really good player for us. We're pleased with what we have managed to do so far and hopefully we can add a couple more.

I can understand that fans get frustrated when they see other teams signing lots of players.

But here at Thistle we have to ensure we get the right player to fit in with our squad and how we want to play the game. I think we have done well on that front.

A lot of the boys we had here last season signed new contracts early on in the summer and that was great business for us.

They proved last term that they can play at this level and they will be better this season for that experience.

So it was a matter of looking at the positions we felt needed a bit of strengthening and we are pleased with the three players we have brought in so far.

However, we won't stop here. We are still hopeful two or three more will come in. It all depends on whether the right players become available and if they fit in to what we are doing here.

Sometimes you miss out on players. That is why you compile a list of targets.

If they come, great. If they don't, you move on to the next one. You can't dwell on it. What's for you won't pass you by.