KRIS DOOLAN is confident he can fend off the challenges from Conor Sammon and Miles Storey and be Partick Thistle’s top marksman once again.

Firhill boss Alan Archibald has added the strike pair to his squad this summer as the Jags look to clinch a top six spot for a second consecutive season.

Doolan led the way with 15 goals to his name last time out and has netted in the Betfred Cup clashes with St Mirren and Airdrieonians so far this term.

And the 30-year-old is relishing the fight for a starting spot in the coming weeks as he looks to hit the goal trail.

Doolan said: “Every year the manager brings in one or two strikers and they go into the team and I need to fight them off year after year.

“It is something that I have done every season and I don’t see it being any different.

“Hopefully it adds more quality to the squad and more depth to the squad, which is important. But I want to get my position back and keep it.

“For me, I do what I do and I don’t try and be something that I am not.

“I stick to my strengths, which is scoring goals and being around the box.

“To be fair, when I am playing, the players around me recognise that and they play the way that lets me score goals.

“Erskine drives with the ball and beats people and that allows me to find space in the box.

“We couldn’t play a direct style of football constantly if I am up there myself so I make sure I do what I do well.

“I keep myself in good condition because I think being available as often as possible is important.

“I have done it year after year after year and to me that is proof that I can do it.

“It is important that we sign players, I understand that, and we have got to have that depth.

“It is about making sure we play to accommodate the players we have got in the squad and hopefully on Saturday we can get a win.”

It has been a frustrating start to the campaign for Thistle as they have been left with nothing to show for their efforts in the Premiership in recent weeks.

The Jags have been beaten by Hibernian, Celtic and St Johnstone and are one of three teams - alongside Killie and Dundee - that have yet to get off the mark so far this term.

Aberdeen make the trip to Firhill this weekend and Doolan is determined to make it fourth time lucky.

He said: “It has definitely not been the start that we had hoped for and we always look to get off to a good start.

“In recent years, that hasn’t been the case so to do it again has been disappointing.

“But there is another game on Saturday and that is the main thing. Regardless of who it is, it is a chance to get three points.

“The quicker we can do that the better because it builds confidence amongst the squad and that is important.

“It seems to be every year that we start slowly and it is not until the end of the year that we really get going. You don’t want to be doing that all the time.”

While Thistle have been left empty handed so far this season, Aberdeen have a perfect Premiership record.

And Doolan has been impressed with the way the Dons have gone about their business this summer.

He said: “They have signed very well in the summer, as they do most summers to be honest.

“Derek McInnes always seems to sign well and add quality to his squad and it is no surprise that he has done it again.

“They have started really well so we know how tough it is going to be. But the good thing for us is that we are at home and hopefully that can help us.”