Firhill will host a different kind of Glasgow derby this afternoon when Partick Thistle host Queen’s Park as the next batch of League Cup games get underway.

And Gus MacPherson is looking for his players to rise to the challenge of going up against against the Premier League side.

“Thistle are a team that I like – they stayed in the league comfortably last season and they do it through hard graft,” said MacPherson. “They are organised, they have a little bit of quality, they are disciplined and it is a challenge for our players to cope with that.

“It is a game that gives them the chance to go out and see where they are and measure themselves against the level that is required in the top flight.

“We know that our players are good technically, they are organised tactically but this is a different kind of test - it is about concentration, discipline and belief. So it will be interesting to see how we get on.

“But equally, it is a game we should also go out and enjoy. No-one fancies us to take anything, it is very early days with regards to the season and it is a chance to go out and relish the chance to compete at a higher level.”

It will be the same Spiders squad who played against Airdrie on Tuesday night who head to Firhill with Tony Quinn, Jamie McKernon and John Carter still out.

And while MacPherson is looking for his players to give a solid account of themselves, he is pragmatic enough to accept that it is all about being ready for the season starting.

“Like most part-time clubs we have players who have jobs, have families, have responsibilities – a normal life,” he said. “We have to respect that football is a hobby for us and it has to be fitted in around people’s lives.

“Guys go on holiday at this time of the year, they have weddings and so on. We will have a squad together but today is about enjoying it and making sure that once we cross the line for the season starting that we are ready to kick on.”